It’s been a tough week for Notre Dame. After arising brief within the Nationwide Championship towards Ohio State, the Irish are feeling the drawbacks of a profitable season. It was introduced on Wednesday that defensive coordinator Al Golden shall be leaving the Combating Irish to develop into the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Golden has been Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons. Reworking the unit into one in all, if not the most effective within the nation. The protection’s play was a giant cause for his or her run to the Nationwide Championship in 2024. It ranked fourth within the nation in factors per sport and passing yards per sport. It’s secure to say that with out the management and technique of Golden Notre Dame doesn’t have practically the success they did.
It’s truthful to say the subsequent defensive coordinator could have huge sneakers to fill. With elite defensive play being a significant a part of the crew’s id they want somebody nearly as good as Golden. Somebody who’s going to construct on the groundwork Golden laid, and preserve the protection at an elite stage. Nevertheless, they don’t must do a large search to seek out that particular person. They’re already on the workers within the defensive again coach Mike Mickens.
Who’s Mike Mickens
Mickens was born on July 24, 1987, in Dayton Ohio. He helped lead his highschool crew to 2 league titles. He additionally earned All-Larger Western Ohio Convention honors twice. This spectacular resume earned him a scholarship from the College of Cincinnati. He turned a starter his freshman 12 months and didn’t begin in just one sport over his 4 years. He additionally left as the varsity chief in interceptions and interception return yards.
Though NFL groups felt Mickens was a gifted participant, there have been issues when he entered the 2009 draft. After a less-than-stellar professional day, plus a left knee harm, Mickens fell to the seventh spherical and was picked by the Dallas Cowboys. Nevertheless, Mickens was waived proper earlier than the beginning of the season. After bouncing across the NFL, in addition to a cease within the Canadian Soccer League he retired from soccer in 2010.
This untimely finish to his enjoying profession, precipitated Mickens to search for different methods to be concerned with soccer. This precipitated him to affix his alma mater’s teaching workers as a defensive assistant. He bounced round a number of FCS and low-level FBS faculties, serving because the cornerbacks coach. Then in February 2020, he joined his former coach Brian Kelly turning into the defensive backs coach at Notre Dame.
Why Mickens is the Proper Alternative for Notre Dame
The largest cause for Mickens being the subsequent defensive coordinator is he supplies consistency. Usually when a crew brings in a brand new DC, there are going to be modifications. They’ll carry of their workers and implement their defensive scheme and magnificence. Though there shall be modifications below Mickens, they gained’t be main. The identical primary philosophies that Golden put in will stay. Plus there’s a higher likelihood of holding the present workers collectively if Mickens is available in.
Mickens can be a major cause for the way good the Irish secondary has develop into. Coming into the season the Irish secondary was ranked as the most effective within the nation. Their efficiency in the course of the season backed up these pre-season evaluations. Mickens is the man who got here up with Notre Dame protection construction, selling him to develop into the Irish cross sport coordinator. He was additionally accountable for calling out the protection over the previous two seasons. Seeing quick success whereas doing it.
Mickens was additionally instrumental in touchdown huge recruits like Benjamin Morrison and Leonard Moore. Although Marcus Freeman is an efficient recruiter, it helps to have coaches who can even join with recruits. It will enable the Irish to proceed to have gifted defensive and might preserve that side of the crew id alive. Though he may not have any expertise at a DC, it’s a mistake for the Irish to rent anybody else than Mickens.
Brian Germinaro is a sportswriter for Stomach Up Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter/X for extra sports activities protection and Stomach Up Sports activities for much more school soccer content material. Characteristic picture credit score: Icon Sportswire.