PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Former Drake University football student-athlete Chris Ash was named the head football coach at Rutgers University on Monday (Dec. 7). Ash is the third Drake alum to currently be a head coach at an FBS program, joining Dave Doeren, who is in his third season at N.C. State and Charlie Partridge, who is in his second year at Florida Atlantic. Only Iowa and Alabama have produced more current FBS head coaches than Drake.
 
A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Ash was a two-time letterwinner at defensive back for the Bulldogs and earned his undergraduate degree in 1996.
 
He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Drake in 1997, and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the next two seasons before moving on to Iowa State University in 2000. Ash spent eight seasons over two different stints in Ames. Ash progressed from graduate assistant with the Cyclones in 2000-01 to defensive backs coach for a total of six seasons.
 
Ash then was hired as defensive backs coach at Wisconsin in 2010, before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the Badgers in 2011. He recently is the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State for the last two seasons.
 
What they're saying about Chris Ash...

"It was only a matter of time before Chris got an opportunity to lead a program. He has a plan that he has been working on since he started coaching in 1995 at Drake University. He has been under some tremendous coaches. He will have great success at Rutgers."
- Charlie Partridge, Florida Atlantic Head Coach
 
"I'm very excited for both Chris and Rutgers.  As long as I've been coaching college football, we've had a special relationship - talking defense, talking motivation and talking the game of life. I have the greatest respect for him as a teacher, coach and person, and knew it was just a matter of time before he became a head coach.  I can't wait to see what he can do."
- Dave Doeren, NC State Head Coach
 
"I would like to congratulate Chris Ash on his becoming the head coach at Rutgers University and, at the same time, truly thank him for the excellent coaching, mentoring and teaching he has provided this football program over the last two seasons. Chris is an outstanding young man; a really fine coach and an exceptional husband and father. I am happy for the opportunity that he, his wife Doreen and young family are about to take on and I wish them all the best."
- Urban Meyer, Ohio State head coach

"Chris did a great job for us at Wisconsin and has been successful at every stop he's made as an assistant. I was always impressed with his preparation and the way he motivated his players. He's ready to be a head coach. I think Chris is a great fit for Rutgers and I'm happy to have him as a head coach in our league."
- Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin Director of Athletics

"Very excited for Chris and the opportunity he has at Rutgers and in the Big Ten Conference. He's got all the tools to lead a program and has certainly earned it. As a first-year head coach I'll be there to help him in any way, but my guess is he'll do just fine."
- Bret Bielema, Arkansas Head Coach