Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Lose Coach After College Football Season
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A year after making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish finished on the outside looking in of the 12-team CFP bracket in 2025. Following an 0-2 start to the season, head coach Marcus Freeman guided his team to a 10-2 record and the No. 10 ranking in the final AP poll of the season after the Indiana Hoosiers were crowned national champions.
Heading into the offseason, Freeman will have to deal with some of the expected turnover that happens year in and year out. Star running back duo Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, along with offensive linemen Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner, all declared early for the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Sunday night, Freeman lost another key piece of his Notre Dame team: defensive backs coach Mike Mickens. After six seasons in South Bend, Mickens is reportedly taking a job as the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Mickens is described by Blue and Gold’s Tyler Horka as “one of the Irish’s most valued and trusted assistant coaches during the Marcus Freeman era.” However, his rising stock meant that the departure of Freeman’s distinguished defensive assistant was “a long time coming.”
Mike Mickens is leaving Notre Dame to take a job with the Baltimore Ravens, @BGInews reports.
Mickens has been one of the Irish’s most valued and trusted assistant coaches during the Marcus Freeman era.
Tough loss for ND but it was a long time coming.https://t.co/QPVl2vJhaSpic.twitter.com/ShprHQRExY
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) January 26, 2026
Mickens’ secondary unit helped the Fighting Irish post top-ranked pass efficiency defense in FBS (104.4) in 2024, including two-time All-American safety Xavier Watts. According to The Athletic’s Pete Sampson, Mickens was in the running for Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator job that went to Chris Ash a year ago. Despite missing out, he got a financial commitment from Notre Dame to stay in his role amid interest from USC and Georgia Tech.
“I love working for Coach (Freeman),” Mickens said. “I’m not just looking to go somewhere. I love these guys. I love my room. But the ultimate goal is to become a head coach.”
Mickens, 38, becomes the first hire on the defensive staff for the Ravens new head coach, Jesse Minter, the former defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers. Minter was an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati during Mickens’ final two seasons there as a player.
Mickens’ move from college football to the NFL follows stops as an cornerbacks coach at Idaho, Bowling Green and Cincinnati. A former seventh-round NFL Draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2009, Mickens also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals as a pro.
Whoever Freeman brings in as Mickens’ replacement will benefit from his exellence on the recruiting trail, which helped land standout cornerback Leonard Moore and a 2026 class including five-star safety Joey O’Brien and four-star cornerback Khary Adams.
Related: Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman Lands ESPN Role for CFP National Championship Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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