Notre Dame is set to bring in a seasoned defensive mind to guide its linebackers, as Brian Jean-Mary is expected to step into the role vacated by Al Washington, who recently departed for a coaching position with the Miami Dolphins. With 25 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, Jean-Mary arrives in South Bend with a résumé built on both development and recruiting success.
Most recently, Jean-Mary served as the defensive run game coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan, helping anchor a defense that was among the most physical in college football. This was his second stint in Ann Arbor-he also coached linebackers there in 2020-and his return to Michigan in 2024 was part of a staff that navigated a transitional period following the departure of head coach Sherrone Moore after the 2025 season.
Jean-Mary was reportedly in the mix for the head coaching job at Georgia Tech before the Notre Dame opportunity emerged. Instead of heading to Atlanta, he now takes over one of the most talented linebacker rooms in the country.
And make no mistake-this is a group loaded with blue-chip talent. At the heart of it is team captain and leading tackler Drayk Bowen, who embodies the kind of physical, instinctive play Notre Dame’s defense has long been known for.
He’s joined by Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Jalen Sneed, Jaiden Ausberry, and Madden Faraimo-all former top recruits with the tools to thrive under Jean-Mary’s guidance. This is not a rebuild; it’s a reload, and Jean-Mary’s track record suggests he's more than capable of maximizing this group’s potential.
His coaching journey has taken him through some of the most competitive programs in the country. After beginning his career as a graduate assistant at Louisville in 2000, Jean-Mary spent time at South Carolina and North Alabama before landing his first major role as Georgia Tech’s linebackers coach from 2004 to 2009.
That stretch laid the foundation for a long-running partnership with Charlie Strong, following him to Louisville, Texas, and South Florida over the next decade. At those stops, Jean-Mary wore multiple hats-including assistant head coach and defensive coordinator-gaining valuable experience in both scheme design and leadership.
He’s also earned a strong reputation on the recruiting trail. According to his 247Sports profile, Jean-Mary has signed seven top-100 prospects and 23 four-star recruits over the course of his career. That kind of success is no accident-it’s the product of relationship-building, evaluation savvy, and a clear vision for player development.
Now, he brings that full package to Notre Dame. With a defense already stacked with high-end talent and expectations always sky-high in South Bend, Jean-Mary steps into a role where the margin for error is slim-but the opportunity is massive. His ability to blend teaching, scheme, and recruiting could make him a key figure in the Irish’s push to return to national title contention.
Jean-Mary played his college ball at Appalachian State, where he was a linebacker from 1993 to 1997. He and his wife, Jerilyn Ardis, have two daughters, Brittany and Brooke.
Brian Jean-Mary Coaching Timeline:
- 2000: Louisville - Graduate Assistant (Strength and Conditioning)
- 2001-02: South Carolina - Graduate Assistant (Defense)
- 2003: North Alabama - Secondary
- 2004-09: Georgia Tech - Linebackers
- 2010-14: Louisville - Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
- 2015-16: Texas - Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator
- 2017-19: South Florida - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- 2020: Michigan - Linebackers
- 2021-23: Tennessee - Linebackers
- 2024-25: Michigan - Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Linebackers
With Jean-Mary now expected to take the reins of the Irish linebacker corps, Notre Dame adds a coach who not only knows how to develop elite talent but also understands how to navigate the high-stakes world of modern college football. It’s a hire that could quietly pay big dividends for one of the sport’s most storied programs.