Ohio State’s linebackers coach from 2019-21, Washington is now in his third season as Notre Dame’s defensive line coach. Washington joined Marcus Freeman’s inaugural staff in 2022 when he and Ohio State parted ways following the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator.

Despite their split three years ago, Washington still has nothing but good things to say about Day and Ohio State.

“A ton of respect for Ryan. I’ve known him for a long time,” Washington said of Day, who Washington previously worked with at Boston College. “I had a great time at Ohio State. Unbelievable experiences with the kids. … My time at Ohio State has been valuable to me professionally and personally.”

Asked if he had a favorite memory from his time at Ohio State, Washington said “there’s too many to name” but said most of them center around his relationships with the players.

Washington’s lasting bonds with Ohio State go beyond his relationship with Day, as Ohio State’s linebacker unit still includes multiple players he either coached or recruited to Ohio State, namely Cody Simon in the former category and C.J. Hicks in the latter. He also knows the coach who currently holds the position he used to hold on Ryan Day’s staff, as current Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis was a graduate assistant at Notre Dame in 2022 before joining the Buckeyes’ staff in 2023.

“James is the best,” Washington told Eleven Warriors at Saturday’s national championship game media day. “Obviously, he’s knowledgeable, well-versed in linebacker play and just football, but just a great person, man. Ton of respect for him and the job he’s done over there. I know a lot of those guys that he’s working with – not all of them, some of them – and I know they’re in the best of hands, man. He’s doing a great job.”

With Washington coaching up its defensive linemen, Notre Dame’s defense has been one of the best in the country this season just like Ohio State’s, ranking just behind OSU as the No. 2 scoring defense in the country with only 14.3 points allowed per game. He believes the Fighting Irish’s success this season has stemmed from its togetherness and competitiveness, and Washington says that starts with the leadership of Freeman, an Ohio State alumnus who Washington had also previously worked with when both were on the defensive staff at Cincinnati in 2017.

“High-character person, great leader of people and cares for people,” Washington said of Freeman. “Those things really impacted my decision (to join Notre Dame’s staff).”

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As his current team prepares to face his former team in the national championship game, Washington sees a lot of common threads between them that have allowed both Ohio State and Notre Dame to get to this point.

“I think they’re both led by good people, and I think there’s a culture of toughness and hard work that’s common throughout both teams,” Washington said. “A lot of pride.”