When Mike Mickens, one of the most respected defensive backs coaches in college football, departed Notre Dame’s staff to take a role with the Baltimore Ravens, many Irish fans understandably braced for impact because of how irreplaceable he was seen by most and how late in the coaching carousel we were. Mickens wasn’t just another position coach; he became one of the cornerstone figures of Notre Dame’s secondary development and recruiting machine.
Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman, however, didn’t blink. Instead of settling for a stopgap or a lesser-known name, the Irish managed to pry a Power Four defensive coordinator away from another program – a testament to Marcus Freeman’s credibility and the appeal of Notre Dame’s defensive vision.