Who Is Notre Dame’s Al Golden? Wife, Contract, and Other Details of the DC

Alfred James Golden Jr., known as Al Golden, is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s defensive coordinator. The former tight end was born on July 4, 1969. Has he always been in this position? Well, let’s see. He started his coaching career as an offensive coordinator at Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1993. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, and not only his coaching but also recruiting has been a tremendous success.

In 2006, CollegeFootballNews.com rated Golden’s initial signing class best in the MAC, while the 2007 and 2008 classes earned top honors in the league from Scout.com. The 55-year-old’s transformation from player to coach wasn’t just natural—it was transformative. Now, Golden has completed his 31st year in coaching and third season at Notre Dame in 2024 (he joined Notre Dame in 2022). Let’s dive into detail about Al Golden.

Al Golden’s early life and playing career

Though not much is not about the defensive coordinator’s early life, we do know that he went to Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic High. Moving on, Al Golden started his football-playing career in 1989–1991, and it was none other than the Penn State Nittany Lions as a tight end. But that is not all as he also studied Pre-Law during his time there.

Golden’s career has been amazing as he earned the Ridge Riley Award for excellence in scholarship, sportsmanship, friendship, and leadership. He even helped the Nittany Lions to an 11–2 record and were ranked third in the final 1991 AP Poll. What after 1991?

Al Golden briefly played professionally for the New England Patriots in 1992. Additionally, he was elected as the team captain his senior year, before moving to another phase of his professional career as an offensive coordinator. And maybe this his where the seeds for his leadership role was sown. He led the Nittany Lions to a 42-17 win over Tennessee in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl. Fascinating, right?

Though his professional career has seen heights that a lot of people aren’t foreign to, do they also know about his personal life? If not, let’s see what we could gather.

Al Golden’s family and achievements 

Al Golden was born to Toni Golden, who is originally from Italy, and Al Golden Sr. in Colts Neck, New Jersey, U.S. Additionally, his father worked as an Executive at Dean Witter. Golden has been married to Kelly Elizabeth Hanna and has three beautiful children with his wife. They have a son, A.J. (Alfred James II), and two daughters named Addison Elizabeth and Grace Hanna Golden, and like any other family, Golden spends time with his family. However, are you aware of his professional achievements?

He is known for his unique sideline attire of dress shirt, slacks, and a tie in school colors. Notre Dame’s very own, Al Golden, was inducted into the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He has coached standout players like Xavier Watts (concensus All-American safety) and Howard Cross III (All-American nose guard). And you would’ve guessed it, the list for his accomplishments runs quite long.

In 2022, when his total defense was ranked 21st, he took it upon himself to coordinate with his team and made it possible for them to achieve a 9-4 record and a victory in the Gator Bowl. Further, he helped lead one of the best pass-rush defenses in the nation in the same year, as his team brought bagged the 15th spot in the country in sacks per game (2.92), which was led by none other than All-American defensive end Isaiah Foskey with 11 sacks.

Apart from being a member of multiple Hall of Fame including the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame, the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Famr and the Red bank Catholic Athletic Hall of Fame, he led Notre Dame to the #1 ranking in pass-efficiency defense in 2023, a first for the program.

And if that was not enough, Irish defense ranked 8th nationally in total defense in 2023, and Notre Dame is all geared up to finish this season with a bang. Now, let’s take you through Al Golden’s earnings.

Al Golden’s contract and salary

Al Golden has given almost three years to Notre Dame and more than 30 years to his coaching career in football. Golden is supposed to have signed great contracts and salary for his dedication and resilience. Contract with Notre Dame, though? He has signed a reported $9 million contract with Notre Dame, which has placed him among the highest-paid defensive coordinators in college football. Extension?

Golden has received a contract extension before the 2024 season due to his success with Notre Dame’s defense. The sources have confirmed that Golden has already signed a four-year contract extension to remain defensive coordinator at ND.

Under Golden, the Irish have become one of the nation’s top defensive teams in just his limited tenure there. And now that he has already signed an extension, the upcoming seasons will be top-notch under Al Golden.