Al Golden and his spring impact as Notre Dame defensive coordinator

When Marcus Freeman filled out his first staff last month with the hire of Al Golden as his defensive coordinator, the first-year Notre Dame head coach emphasized two reasons why he believes this was the perfect fit for his most important staff hire. 

First, Freeman needed and wanted an assistant with head coaching experience.

Golden spent five years as the head man at Temple (2006-10) before taking the top job at Miami (Fla.) for five seasons (2011-15).

Second, having to bring in a third new Irish DC in three seasons, Freeman explained that he wasn’t interested in a complete defensive overhaul, or looking for a “my way or the highway” coach to fill the position he successfully held down last season.

“I was looking for a person that didn’t want to come in here and just drop his playbook, right, and say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing,’” Freeman explained. “No, Al Golden was a guy who said, ‘Hey, let me evaluate what you all are doing. Let me evaluate your players and let’s put together the best scheme.’”

And with Golden, Freeman believes he landed the candidate who perfectly fits both criteria. 

As a former head coach, Golden not only provides a valuable veteran been-there-done-that resource and sounding board for a rookie head coach but also a wingman who’s willing to learn and respect Freeman’s defensive vision, but is unafraid to tweak as needed.

“Al Golden is the defensive coordinator, Marcus Freeman is not the defensive coordinator,” Freeman emphasized. “[Golden] has to take this thing over, but the ability to come in and to adapt to what our players know, I think is a huge benefit.” 

And with a willingness to build on Freeman’s defense instead of bulldozing it, Golden is picking up so far this spring where this unit left off after showing steady improvement last season — save for the Fiesta Bowl. 

“[Golden] has done a great job of being able to understand and enhance how he wants it done, but also be able to teach it to the players,” Freeman said. “It’s been really, really good.” 

A Golden touch

Both Freeman and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees admitted to being pleasantly impressed with how a suggestion from Golden to start these early spring practices with a heavy emphasis on red zone performance is already benefitting both the Irish offense and defense.

Rees explained that through his coaching career, red zone concentration always came later during installation.  

“Our first two installs were all for the red area, which is something that Coach Golden had brought up early and something that they had done,” Rees said. “You’re not going to have as many guys running out early in camp where they can pull a hamstring. You condense the field, and really, you’re going to get a chunk of time on an extremely important situation.”

And given that Notre Dame finished only 102nd in red zone offense and 89th in red zone defense nationally last season, Freeman fully approved of Golden’s preparation suggestion. 

“We’re doing some different things that we didn’t do in the red zone and I think our guys are really embracing it,” Freeman said. “They still understand the things we did last year and how that’s part of our defensive scheme now, but I think they are embracing the enhancement of it.” 

Right or wrong, Freeman hopes to foster a healthy all-for-one environment through a coaching style framed on communication, openness and feedback with his players, rather than a stern “this is how it’s going to be” approach. 

“Challenge your coaches, challenge everything, that’s the mindset we have. That’s not disrespectful,” Freeman explained. “Don’t be yes men, go challenge your coaches. How do I get better? How do I learn?

“If you keep doing the same thing, are you really getting better? So, I am challenging our players and our coaches to give feedback.”