Notre Dame Football: Al Golden a fit for Indiana opening?

The coaching carousel is spinning again and an opening that might be a perfect fit for the Notre Dame football defensive coordinator seemingly materialized.

Now that the Indiana Hoosiers have fired Tom Allen, there a brand new opening that Notre Dame football defensive coordinator Al Golden could be in the running for this offseason.

In fact, there are two new head coaching opportunities this Sunday morning. With Houston and Indiana both saying goodbye to their coaches, the list of openings is only getting longer.

There was about a three-hour window where it seemed like Golden might sit still. Like he might return for a third season as the leader of the Fighting Irish’s defense.

There is of course a chance he has no interest in getting on the carousel. The number of coaches who take a job and then remain there until they choose to leave is pretty small. Even smaller these days than it used to be. And Indiana is clearly a tough job.

However, when Golden was asked about the possibility of taking the Syracuse job if it was offered to him, he didn’t exactly shoot it down. That would seem to indicate he would like a head coaching job again if it was offered.

There’s also the fact that he knows the state of Indiana well these days. He’s spent two years getting to know the state and the area and the best talent in the state.

With head coaching stints at Temple and Miami, he knows both how to rebuild a program and maybe what not to do with a Power 5 team.

Notre Dame football coach could be fit for Indiana

There is no way of knowing which direction Indiana will go with their hire. They almost certainly want someone younger. An up-and-comer. But the Hoosiers is not that kind of job.

Al Golden can be someone who lends a steadying, veteran voice to a program that needs an overhaul. The biggest question isn’t whether he’s a fit, it’s whether he’d want to leave the relative comfort of Notre Dame football.