Four years ago, Mike Moon was hired to Notre Dame's defensive staff by then-coordinator Marcus Freeman and ex-defensive line coach Mike Elston. But Moon quickly became a key cog in the Fighting Irish's Al Golden-led defense, proving his coaching versatility by roles that assisted with the coaching of Notre Dame's defensive line and linebackers.

With Notre Dame coming up just short of winning a national title, it gives the Cincinnati Bengals the go-ahead to be in hot pursuit of the Fighting Irish's defensive coordinator Al Golden. His return to Cincinnati may be what turns the Bengals around.

On Wednesday, the Fighting Irish announced Golden's replacement. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Notre Dame agreed to hire Chris Ash as its newest defensive coordinator.

Notre Dame has lost a key part of its national championship run with defensive coordinator Al Golden leaving to take the same role for the Cincinnati Bengals ... he turned the Irish defense ...

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has coached his last game with the Fighting Irish on Monday night. According to multiple reports, the Cincinnati Bengals are finalizing a deal with Golden to make him their next defensive coordinator.

Notre Dame football officially is losing Al Golden to the Bengals. However, the Irish could have an immediate replacement.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is expected to join the Bengals in the same role, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday. The news comes days after the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff championship game, the school's first title shot of the century.

Cincinnati is finalizing a deal to hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden to run its defense. Golden helped lead the Fighting Irish to Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game where they lost to Ohio State. He is expected to officially sign with the team on Thursday.

The Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator job has been open for more than two weeks now, but there hasn't been much movement on a possible hiring and now we know why: The team was waiting for Notre Dame to finish its season.

Michael Bearden got a couple of key years on staff at Notre Dame. Now, Bearden is moving on to the NFL. Several sources tell FootballScoop that Bearden, Notre Dame's assistant wide receivers coach each of the past two seasons, is making the leap to an NFL staff.

Chris Ash, a former Rutgers head coach who spent the past four years in the NFL, will be Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator.

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly looking to hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden for the same job.