Top 5 Notre Dame defensive coordinator candidates for 2025

Chris Marve

Marve is one of the more intriguing “free agent” defensive coordinator candidates available as he was fired by Virginia Tech following the 2024 regular season. The Hokies’ defense struggled down the stretch and ranked just 57th overall in the country. However, Marve proved successful as a defensive coordinator the year prior as the Hokies ranked in the top 20 nationally in total defense in 2023, producing 39 sacks which ranked second in the country. The former All-SEC linebacker at Vanderbilt began his coaching career in 2014 as an assistant at his alma mater before becoming a linebackers coach at Mississippi State and Florida State. The 35-year-old is young and relatively inexperienced, but his upside could make him an external candidate who the Fighting Irish pursue.