(Photo: Fighting Irish Media)
Notre Dame did not just fill a vacancy up front. It made a statement.
Charlie Partridge, arrives in South Bend as the Peter Schivarelli Defensive Line Coach, succeeding Al Washington, who shifts to linebackers coach while retaining his role as defensive run game coordinator. The move is intentional and layered, strengthening two position groups with clearly defined leadership.
This is not shuffling responsibilities. It is optimizing them.
Partridge brings nearly three decades of coaching experience and a reputation as both an elite developer and an elite recruiter. Across multiple stops, he has consistently attracted and developed high-level defensive line talent, whether at Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Florida Atlantic, or most recently in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. At Pitt and FAU in particular, Partridge was a cornerstone recruiter, landing some of the best classes in program history and identifying players who would later become All-Americans and NFL draft picks. His credibility with prospects is built on a simple pitch: production, development, and a proven path to the league.
On the field, the results follow. Partridge’s defensive lines have lived in opposing backfields, ranking among the national leaders in sacks and tackles for loss during his collegiate stops, while his Colts units finished near the top of the NFL in yards per carry allowed and takeaways. He has coached ACC Defensive Players of the Year, multiple unanimous All-Americans, and first-round draft picks. The common thread is disruption and discipline up front.
There is also continuity baked into the hire. Partridge reunites with defensive coordinator Chris Ash for the fifth time in their careers, a partnership that dates back to their playing days at Drake and has carried through multiple successful coaching stops. That familiarity should allow Notre Dame’s defensive front to transition smoothly, with shared terminology, technique, and expectations from day one.
Washington’s move to linebackers completes the picture. A former linebackers coach at Ohio State and Michigan, Washington steps into a room loaded with talent in 2026, led by senior captain Drayk Bowen and supported by Jaylen Sneed, Jaiden Ausberry, Kyngston Viliamu-Asa, and Madden Faraimo. His experience developing NFL linebackers fits the profile of a group poised to take another step.
Taken together, the changes reflect a staff built for both the present and the future. Partridge solidifies the defensive line as a developmental and recruiting engine, while Washington stabilizes the second level with experience and continuity. For Notre Dame, this is not just a hire. It is a strategic upgrade along the spine of the defense.