Notre Dame hires Illinois’ Aaron Henry as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, replacing Mike Mickens.

Notre Dame is set to hire Illinois’ defensive coordinator Aaron Henry as its co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, replacing Mike Mickens, who joined the Baltimore Ravens. Henry, who joined Illinois in 2021 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2023, helped lead the team to 19 wins over the past two seasons, the program’s best stretch in years. His hiring marks a key move in Marcus Freeman’s effort to rebuild Notre Dame’s defense, which ranked 22nd in total defense and 11th in scoring defense during the same period.