SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football defensive line coach Al Washington on Wednesday called being one of three finalists for the head coaching job at his alma mater, Boston University, a “phenomenal experience.”
Despite losing to former NFL coach Bill O'Brien, Washington saw only positives in a whirlwind process that ended six weeks ago on Feb. 9.
“Honestly, it was really fast,” Washington said. “Things happened quickly. It was great to be able to think about the big picture and connect with my alma mater. Obviously, the way I look at it, I'm in a no-lose situation.”
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Audrey Washington, the coach's 6-year-old daughter, was pleased with the result.
“My daughter was happy that I didn't understand, so that's why,” Washington said with a laugh. “That's funny. When we found out about it, she said, 'Good.' I said okay. ' '
Washington and his wife, Melissa, also have a young son, Michael.
“My family is happy here, so it's not a place I'm going to go penniless,” Washington said. “But the reality is, yeah, it would have been a great opportunity as well. I want to be great where I'm at. I want to keep trying to be a better coach, but if the stars align again, I want to be great. will get even better.”
Washington, 39, is in his third season at Notre Dame, where he also serves as the defensive run game coordinator. A standout defensive tackle at Boston College from 2002-05, Washington was an assistant with the Eagles for five seasons (2012-2016), where he was involved in all three phases of the game.
“We prepare every year,” he said. “In preparing for that (interview), I reflected on everything I've been through. That's the mindset. Now, I'm going to lay out a few things. There's a great resource here. Yes, but who you are as a coach is largely due to the people you were around.”
Washington's resume includes visits to Cincinnati (2017), Michigan State (2018) and Ohio State (2019-21).
“I've been fortunate to have some really good players, including Marcus (Freeman),” Washington said. “(The interview) touched on my culture, my philosophy, things that are important to me. It was a lot of fun, even though I had to stay up late at times planning and preparing. I came here and put it into motion. I’m happy to continue.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for NDInsider.com and is active on social media @MikeBerardino.
