Here's the Google AI answer to a question (never trust AI):
Is Chris Ash a good defensive coach?
AI Overview
Yes, Chris Ash is generally considered a good and highly experienced defensive coordinator, marked by leading multiple top-25 defenses, including a top-10 unit at Ohio State in 2015 and back-to-back top-15 defenses at Wisconsin in the early 2010s. While his stints as a head coach at Rutgers and Texas weren't as successful, he has a track record of successful defensive coordination in the Big Ten and recent NFL experience, making him a respected figure with a lot of experience.
Key achievements as a defensive coordinator:
- Ohio State (2014-2015):
- He was a co-defensive coordinator on the 2014 national championship team, which ranked 19th nationally in total defense in his first season. In 2015, the defense under him was ranked second in scoring defense and ninth in total defense nationally.
- Wisconsin (2011-2012):
- As the defensive coordinator for two seasons, the Badgers ranked 15th nationally in total defense in both years.
- Texas (2020):
- Ash served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2020, guiding the team to a 7-3 record and a win in the Alamo Bowl. The Longhorns were ninth nationally in fourth-down defense and 10th in turnover margin.
Areas of expertise:
- Turning around defenses:
He has a proven ability to improve defensive statistics, such as when he improved Arkansas's pass defense from 113th to 72nd in one season.
- Experience:
Ash brings extensive experience, with 24 years in college coaching and time in the NFL.
- Developing a physical play style:
He focuses on a "fast, violent, physical" defense with a focus on winning at the point of attack, according to YouTube.
Considerations:
- Head coaching performance: His tenure as a head coach at Rutgers was not successful.
I asked Grok if he is a bad coach, and got much different & realistic results.
He’s a crap coach in my book. Don’t need AI to tell me what my own eyes saw.
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Chris Ash, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator since February 2025, has a mixed coaching history that includes notable successes but also significant failures, leading many to question his effectiveness—especially after a disastrous start to the 2025 season. Whether he's a "bad coach" is subjective and depends on the lens (e.g., past achievements vs. current performance), but the evidence points to underwhelming results in his head coaching and recent coordinator roles, with his Notre Dame tenure amplifying those concerns.
### Career Overview
Ash, 51, has nearly 30 years of coaching experience across college and the NFL. He started as a position coach (defensive backs at schools like Iowa State and San Diego State) before rising to coordinator and head coach levels. Key stops:
- **Defensive Coordinator Successes**: At Wisconsin (2011-12), his defenses helped the Badgers win Big Ten titles and ranked top-25 nationally in scoring defense. At Ohio State (2014-15), as co-DC, the 2015 unit was elite—2nd in scoring defense (16.8 points/game), 9th in total defense (314.8 yards/game), and 9th in sacks (2.92/game)—contributing to a 12-1 record and Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. These roles showcased his ability to develop secondaries and generate pressure.
- **Head Coach Failure at Rutgers (2016-19)**: Hired on a 5-year, $11 million deal after his Ohio State success, Ash went 8-32 overall (3-24 in Big Ten play). The Scarlet Knights ranked near the bottom nationally in total defense (e.g., 115th in 2018 at 445 yards/game allowed). He was fired midseason in 2019 due to "poor performance," with critics citing poor recruiting, scheme mismatches, and inability to adapt.
- **Later Roles**: At Texas (2020 DC), the Longhorns ranked 59th in scoring defense amid a pandemic-disrupted year. In the NFL, he coached defensive backs for the Jaguars (2021) and Raiders (2022-23), with middling results (e.g., Raiders' secondary allowed 7.2 yards/reception in 2022). He scouted for the Jaguars in 2024 before joining Notre Dame.
Ash was hired by Marcus Freeman to replace Al Golden (who left for the NFL's Bengals after top-10 defenses in 2023-24) with a "don't fix what isn't broken" philosophy, emphasizing continuity in Notre Dame's man-heavy, aggressive scheme while adding zone elements and better tackling fundamentals. Freeman praised Ash's experience and player development skills at the time.
### Performance at Notre Dame (2025 Season)
Entering 2025, Notre Dame returned significant talent from a defense that ranked 5th nationally in scoring (15.8 points/game) in 2024. Ash inherited a unit built for physicality and havoc, but through two games (0-2 start: 27-24 loss at Miami, 41-40 home loss to Texas A&M), it's collapsed into one of the nation's worst:
| Category | Notre Dame Rank (After 2 Games) | 2024 Rank (Under Golden) | Notes |
|----------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|-------|
| Scoring Defense | 118th (34.0 points/game) | 5th (15.8 points/game) | Allowed 27 to Miami (No. 8 offense), 41 to Texas A&M (No. 17). Gave up game-winning TD to a backup TE on final drive vs. A&M. |
| Total Defense | ~120th (est. 450+ yards/game) | 12th (320 yards/game) | Nearly 500 yards allowed vs. A&M; big plays like 97-yard TD opportunity exposed coverage gaps. |
| Sacks | Tied-120th (0.5/game) | 18th (2.8/game) | Only 1 sack total (vs. Miami); no edge pressure despite wider DE splits. |
| Third-Down Stops | Tied-53rd (33% allowed) | Top-15 | 8-of-24 conversions allowed; poor red-zone efficiency. |
| Tackling/Discipline | Bottom-10% (est.) | Top-20 | Multiple missed tackles; scheme shift to more zone has led to "tentative, reactionary" play, undoing man-coverage recruits. |
Critics argue Ash has "torched" Golden's playbook, introducing mismatches like excessive zone (unfamiliar to players) and failing to generate pressure or communication. The defense looks "lost," with no havoc (turnovers, TFLs) despite talent like DEs Boubacar Traore and Drayton Daniels. Freeman has defended Ash publicly ("it's our defense," blaming execution), but hinted at increasing his own involvement in scheming/play-calling, signaling internal doubts.
### Public and Expert Sentiment
- **Media/Analysts**: Outlets like The Athletic call it a "defensive coordinator problem," with Ash reducing an "aggressive and fast" unit to "tentative" play; USA Today labels the hire a "disaster" and lesson in quality control (echoing Nick Saban's staff management). South Bend Tribune notes regression from Golden to Ash, with only 1 sack/1 INT in two games. Even ex-Notre Dame captain Mike Goolsby tweeted, "Ash is terrible."
- **Fans/Social Media**: Overwhelmingly negative. X posts label Ash "GOD AWFUL," "the worst DC in America," and a "horrible hire" who's "destroyed" the culture in six quarters. Calls for firing him (even at halftime) are common, with comparisons to past ND flops like Brian VanGorder in 2016. Pre-season optimism (e.g., his OSU ties) has evaporated.
### Assessment
Ash isn't incompetent across the board—his Ohio State and Wisconsin defenses were championship-caliber, proving he can scheme effectively with elite talent. However, his Rutgers debacle exposed weaknesses in adapting to lesser rosters and sustaining success, patterns repeating at Notre Dame where he's failed to leverage returning starters. The 2025 collapse (from top-10 to bottom-120th in key stats) suggests poor preparation, scheme fit, and execution under his watch, making him a poor fit for ND's physical identity. If the season continues this way (e.g., vs. Purdue on Sept. 20), his job security could be in jeopardy, as Freeman may intervene or seek changes.
In short, based on his track record and current results, many view Ash as a bad hire for Notre Dame—effective in spots but ultimately unreliable as a lead coordinator. The jury is out on a full turnaround, but two games in, it's hard to argue he's elevating the program.
scarletknights.com
