The Notre Dame football team appears to be keeping Mike Mickens.
One day ago, holding onto one of the fastest-rising defensive assistants seemed unlikely. The Irish recently hired defensive coordinator Chris Ash, and there were some reports that Mickens was displeased he didn’t get the job. Adding insult to injury, claims that Mickens might share the DC job with Ash before the new addition was hired were false. Then, a secondary coach position opened with the Texas Longhorns.
On Wednesday night, Texas was rumored to have plucked former Rutgers CB coach Mark Orphey from the Scarlet Knights. The Longhorns’ hire means that Mickens is staying put and will coach the Notre Dame football team’s defensive backs for at least one more season.
According to my sources, Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian has hired Rutgers CB coach Mark Orphey to replace Blake Gideon. Orphey, a North Shore grad, had strong ties to Houston. He's viewed as an excellent hire for the Longhorns. pic.twitter.com/FTUzufcdQM
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) February 13, 2025
Notre Dame football pulls off coup by keeping top defensive assistant
The question now becomes, just how long can the Fighting Irish keep Mickens in South Bend? It’s clear that he wanted the job that went to Ash once Al Golden left. That he interviewed for what was essentially a lateral position can’t be a good sign.
Head coach Marcus Freeman has said he believes Micken will be a defensive coordinator somewhere sooner or later. Unfortunately, he also made it abundantly clear he doesn’t believe Notre Dame can be that first DC job for anyone.
It seems likely that Mickens is in town for one more season at most. The Notre Dame football team better make the most of it, or find a way to keep one of the hottest names on the staff, plenty happy.