Now that Dave Doeren is available, Notre Dame has a pretty obvious idea worth exploring: bring him in and let him help Chris Ash think through the defense.
This would not be a head-coach move, and it would not even necessarily be a full-time assistant role. Doeren probably would not be looking for that kind of setup right now anyway. But as an analyst who can sit in the room, share ideas and offer a different set of eyes on a defense that could use them, he makes a lot of sense.
The fit starts with history. Doeren and Ash have crossed paths more than once, and that connection goes all the way back to Drake in 1997.
Ash was a graduate assistant then, while Doeren handled the defense and linebackers. When Doeren left for USC, Ash stepped in as defensive coordinator.
They linked up again at Wisconsin in 2010, with Doeren as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and Ash coaching the defensive backs. When Doeren left for Northern Illinois in 2011 to become head coach, Ash once again moved up and replaced him as defensive coordinator while staying with the defensive backs.
Doeren then spent two seasons at Northern Illinois before taking over at North Carolina State in 2013. He stayed there until he was fired earlier this season.
His run in Raleigh had clear positives. NC State stayed competitive under him, missing a bowl game only twice in 13 years.
He went 98-73 and finished with four nine-win seasons.
But the program never quite broke through. Doeren never got NC State to 10 wins in a season, and the last stretch was more sideways than forward. The Wolfpack went 6-7 and 8-5 in 2024 and 2025.
The end came into focus early this season. NC State opened with a 34-8 loss to Virginia, then fell 38-14 to Wake Forest. The loss that really turned heads was the 31-28 defeat to a bad Stanford team, and that was enough for the Wolfpack to move on.
There are fair questions about how high Doeren could take a program as a head coach. What is not really up for debate is his value on the defensive side. He has a strong enough background there to be useful, and Notre Dame should at least make the call and see if he is open to the idea.
Marcus Freeman needs to do everything he can with the chance in front of him this season, and adding Doeren as an extra voice would be a sensible way to squeeze a little more out of the defense.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Commit Abraham Sesay Just Added More National Buzz
Abraham Sesay keeps adding to a rising profile that already has Notre Dame followers paying attention. The 2027 Irish commit is set to be officially honored as a Navy All-American at Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania, on October 30, 2026, part of the Road to the Dome tour that will recognize 100 All-Americans with jersey presentations ahead of the main event.
Sesay is also scheduled to take part in the annual East vs. West All-American Bowl game on January 9, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas, another marker of how quickly his national reputation has grown. For Notre Dame, it is the kind of off-field momentum that comes with landing a recruit whose name is starting to carry weight well beyond the usual prep recruiting circles. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Offense Has One Big Chance To Regain Momentum
Notre Dame heads into its game with Navy looking for a cleaner offensive rhythm, and the matchup gives the Irish a chance to reset in a few key spots. Navys pass defense has been a vulnerable area, which puts added attention on how Notre Dame uses its receivers and protects the quarterback, especially with Micah Gilbert and Anthonie Knapp in the spotlight as the unit tries to find more consistency.
CJ Carr is part of that equation too, because Notre Dames passing game still needs sharper execution to turn the opportunity into something meaningful. The setup is there for the Irish to regain some momentum, but it will take better individual play and a more dependable offensive structure to make the most of a defense that has shown it can be attacked through the air. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Sent A Clear Warning About Notre Dame's Offense
Notre Dames offense left plenty on the table in its recent game against BYU, and the frustrating part for the Irish was how often drives stalled at the most important moments. They converted only 8 of 19 third downs and finished 3 of 5 in the red zone, the kind of missed chances that can keep an offense from ever finding its rhythm or forcing an opponent to play from behind.
Marcus Freeman made it clear afterward that he does not want the blame shifting toward offensive coordinator Mike Denbrocks approach. Freeman pointed to execution as the issue, took responsibility for the loss, and stressed that the unit has to clean things up quickly before the next stretch of games brings even more pressure. [Read more 🡒]