New defensive line coach Charlie Partridge and returning linebackers coach Al Washington shape a veteran Notre Dame staff ready to dominate.
It's official. Notre Dame has hired former Indianapolis Colts defensive line coach Charlie Partridge to be their defensive line coach in 2026. Former linebackers coach Max Bullough returned to his alma mater to be Michigan State's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach paving the way for Al Washington to transition to become Notre Dame's next linebackers coach for 2026. Both of these moves were made official in the last 24 hours meaning the Irish defensive coaching staff is likely set for this upcoming season.
In this day and age of college football, continuity is becoming a bigger factor of success. The transfer portal and the couching carousel the last couple of months have been chaotic, to put it lightly. But the Notre Dame defensive coaching staff, outside of Bullough's departure, has remained intact with Chris Ash, the defensive coordinator, returning along with Washington and defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Mike Mickens.
The move to keep Washington on staff and surround him with players he is familiar with is an exceptionally smart move on behalf of the Fighting Irish coaching staff. Washington was also the defensive run game coordinator as well as the defensive line coach this past couple of seasons. Retaining him while also hiring Partridge, a seasoned veteran coaching the defensive line, will pay major dividends this upcoming season.
Partridge's most recent experience coaching at the collegiate level was at Pittsburgh from 2017 to 2023. He's spent the last two seasons with the Colts coaching players like DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and others. When he was with the Panthers, their defense averaged 284.5 pressures per season with over 120 hits plus sacks on the quarterback year over year. With how productive Notre Dame's defensive line was this last season, continued growth was crucial in the trenches and this hire solidifies that.
Washington walks into a winning coaching situation; he'll remain Notre Dame's run game coordinator but will be in charge of arguably the deepest, most experienced and most talented linebacking corps in the country with Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Madden Faraimo headlining the group. Washington will continue working with the defensive line, more from a run game coordination impact than a day to day impact.
With Mickens, there's little to no question around the quality, performance and development of the Notre Dame secondary. Like the linebacking corps, the secondary will enter this upcoming season as one of, if not the most, experienced and talented units in the country. Every player projected to start, Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson and Dallas Golden, all started some of all of the regular season games for Notre Dame in 2025.
The level of experience on the defensive roster combined with coaching staff that, for the most part, is identical to the coaching staff you had last season, the Notre Dame defense is poised to pick up where it left off in 2025. They finished the regular season ranked 11th in points allowed, 10th in rush defense, 4th in interceptions, 9th in passer rating and 5th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Now, this unit will still have to develop to reach it's full potential this upcoming season. But with all the doom and gloom surrounding the program in recent weeks, this is news that should get fans excited about this upcoming season.
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