Notre Dame’s football coaching staff is undergoing significant shifts as head coach Marcus Freeman and athletic director Jack Swarbrick work to build a strong, competitive program. The 2025 offseason has seen several major moves, with key personnel changes that will impact both the offensive and defensive units.
On the offensive side, one of the most notable changes is the hiring of Ja’Juan Seider as the new running backs coach. Seider, who previously worked at Penn State, brings with him a wealth of experience, having coached at schools like West Virginia, Marshall, and most recently, as the co-offensive coordinator at Penn State. His appointment follows the departure of Deland McCullough, who left to join the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders as their running backs coach. McCullough was highly regarded for his ability to develop talented running backs, including standout players like Audric Estime and Jeremiyah Love. The arrival of Seider is expected to keep Notre Dame’s ground game a key feature of their offensive attack.
In terms of defensive coaching, Notre Dame made a major move by hiring Chris Ash as the new defensive coordinator. Ash, who has previously coached at Ohio State and Arkansas, brings both NFL and college experience to the role. His most notable achievements include being part of Ohio State’s 2014 national championship team. Ash replaces Al Golden, who left Notre Dame for a role with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. The change at defensive coordinator comes at a crucial time for the Irish, who are looking to maintain their strong defensive identity while adjusting to the loss of several key defensive players.
Additional changes include the hiring of Mike Denbrock from LSU as the new offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. Denbrock has a reputation for building dynamic offenses and will play a significant role in developing the Irish’s offensive schemes. Meanwhile, Mike Brown has been brought in as the wide receivers coach, coming over from Wisconsin, and Loren Landow has been named the director of football performance after Matt Balis’s resignation prior to the 2023 season.
These staff changes reflect Notre Dame’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its coaching ranks and continue to compete at the highest level in college football. With the new hires, Freeman is aiming to create a program that can consistently challenge for playoff spots and national titles.
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