Charlie Partridge Named Peter Schivarelli Defensive Line Coach – Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Football program has announced that Charlie Partridge has joined the Notre Dame Football coaching staff for the 2026 season as the Peter Schivarelli Defensive Line Coach. The hiring will be effective at the conclusion of the University’s standard employment process.

“Charlie’s record of developing highly impactful defensive linemen speaks for itself,” said Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman. “We are excited to have him joining our staff. His experience in both college football and the NFL, as well as his experience working with Chris Ash, will be very beneficial to our program.”

Partridge enters his 29th season of coaching and has seen success throughout his career in multiple posts, including as a position coach, coordinator and head coach. He most recently served as the defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts.

The 2025 regular season saw the Colts’ defense rank tied for second in fewest rush yards allowed per carry and finish seventh in fewest rushing yards allowed per game. The Colts finished the year ranked tenth in total takeaways (21) during the 2025 regular season. In 2024, the Colts defense ranked eighth in the NFL in fewest rush yards allowed per carry. The Indianapolis defense ranked tied for seventh in the NFL in takeaways (25) and tied for first in the league in red zone takeaways (six). The Colts were also tenth in the NFL in tackles for loss (88) and tied for third in forced fumbles (17) in Partridge’s first season with the team. 

Prior to his time in Indianapolis, Partridge spent 26 years in the collegiate coaching ranks as a positional coach, special teams coordinator, co-defensive coordinator, assistant coach and head coach. 

From 2017-23, Partridge served his second coaching stint with the University of Pittsburgh, working as the assistant head coach/defensive line coach (2018-23) and defensive line coach (2017) with the Panthers. 

The 2023 Pittsburgh defense ranked tenth in all of FBS in red zone defense and 19th in total tackles for loss. The 2022 season saw Partridge coach defensive tackle Calijah Kancey to ACC Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-America honors after he led the nation’s interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss (14.5). Additionally, Kancey was the only player that season to be selected as a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The 2022 season also saw Panther defensive end Deslin Alexandre earn Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year and Coach Wooden Citizen Cup honors under Partridge.

The 2021 Panthers finished first in the ACC Coastal Division and defeated Wake Forest in the ACC Championship game. As a team, Pittsburgh ranked second in the nation in fourth-down conversion percentage defense in 2021 and sixth in rushing defense. In 2020, Partridge had a pair of consensus All-Americans in Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver. Under his guidance, the Panthers ranked in the top five nationally in sacks from 2019-22. He was named by FootballScoop as the National Defensive Line Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2022. Seven different defensive linemen earned All-ACC honors under Partridge from 2017 through 2023. Four of his defensive linemen were all drafted in the 2021 and 2023 NFL Drafts – Calijah Kancey (2023), Patrick Jones II (2021), Rashad Weaver (2021) and Jaylen Twyman (2021).

Partridge served as the head coach at Florida Atlantic University from 2014-16. During his tenure, the Owls had three of FAU’s best recruiting classes in program history. His players garnered 39 Conference USA postseason honors, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson was named the 2016 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. Ten players who competed under Partridge at FAU went on to the NFL, including Hendrickson and 2026 Pro Bowl selection Azeez Al-Shaair.

Partridge served as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach at the University of Arkansas in the 2013 season. He coached Trey Flowers and Chris Smith to Second Team All-SEC honors, and the pair both went on to compete in the NFL. 

From 2008-12, Partridge served on the staff at the University of Wisconsin as associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach (2011-12) and defensive line and specialists coach (2008-10). He worked closely with defensive end J.J. Watt, the 2010 Lott IMPACT Trophy winner and All-America selection for the Badgers. Watt was third in the nation in tackles for loss (21.0) in the 2010 season, was selected in the first round with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times.

Partridge spent the 2003-07 seasons at the University of Pittsburgh as special teams coordinator/linebackers coach (2007), special teams coordinator/defensive line coach (2006), defensive ends/special teams coach (2005) and defensive ends coach (2003-04). The Panthers’ defense led the Big East and was ranked fifth nationally in total defense per game (297.7 yards per game) in the 2007 season. 

In 2002, Partridge was the defensive line coach and served as the recruiting coordinator at Eastern Illinois University. The Panthers earned a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title and reached the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) playoffs. 

Partridge was the director of football operations (2000-01) after serving as a graduate assistant (1998-99) at Iowa State University. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Drake University from 1996-97, where he worked with the running backs. 

A 1995 graduate of Drake University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, Partridge was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs as a defensive lineman. He was a team captain and was named an NSCA All-American.

THE PARTRIDGE FILE

Hometown: Plantation, Fla.
High School: Plantation
College: Drake (1995), Iowa State (master’s degree, 2002)
Wife: Julie
Children: Alexa and Kylee

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• 1991-94 Drake (Defensive Lineman)

COACHING CAREER

• 1996-97 Drake Graduate Assistant
• 1998-99 Iowa State Graduate Assistant
• 2002 Eastern Illinois Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
• 2003-04 Pittsburgh Defensive Ends Coach
• 2005 Pittsburgh Defensive Ends/Special Teams Coach
• 2006 Pittsburgh Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
• 2007 Pittsburgh Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
• 2008-10 Wisconsin Defensive Line and Specialists Coach
• 2011-12 Wisconsin Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
• 2013 Arkansas Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
• 2014-16 Florida Atlantic Head Coach
• 2017 Pittsburgh Defensive Line Coach
• 2018-23 Pittsburgh Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
• 2024-25 Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line Coach

BOWLS/PLAYOFFS COACHED

• 2002 Football Championship Subdivision First Round (Eastern Illinois) 
• 2003 Continental Tire Bowl (Pittsburgh)
• 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Pittsburgh)
• 2008 Champs Sports Bowl (Wisconsin)
• 2009 Champs Sports Bowl (Wisconsin)
• 2010 Rose Bowl (Wisconsin)
• 2011 Rose Bowl (Wisconsin)
• 2012 Rose Bowl (Wisconsin) 
• 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl (Pittsburgh)
• 2019 Quick Lane Bowl (Pittsburgh)
• 2021 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Pittsburgh) 
• 2022 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (Pittsburgh)

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Partridge earned his undergraduate degree from Drake in 1995.
• A defensive lineman for the Bulldogs, he was a three-year starter, served as team captain and was named as an NSCA All-American.
• He earned a master’s degree in education from Iowa State in 2002.
• Partridge will join Chris Ash on the coaching staff at Notre Dame, marking the fifth time the pair have coached together. The duo played at and graduated from Drake before working together at Drake, Iowa State, Wisconsin and Arkansas

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Partridge spent two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts as the defensive line coach.
• Two Colts defensive linemen were named as Pro Football Focus Team of the Week honorees in 2025 – Grover Stewart (Week 6) and Laiatu Latu (Week 16).
• The Colts finished the 2025 regular season ranked tenth in total takeaways (21) during the 2025 regular season. 
• In 2024, the Colts defense ranked eighth in the NFL in fewest rush yards allowed per carry. 
• The Indianapolis defense ranked tied for seventh in the NFL in takeaways (25) and tied for first in the league in red zone takeaways (six) in 2024.
• Prior to his time in the NFL, Partridge spent 26 years in the collegiate coaching ranks as a positional coach, special teams coordinator, co-defensive coordinator, assistant coach and head coach. 
• While at Pittsburgh, the Panthers ranked in the top five nationally in sacks from 2019-22.
• Partridge mentored 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-America honoree Calijah Kancey. 
• He coached 2022 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year and 2022 Coach Wooden Citizen Cup honoree Deslin Alexandre while at Pittsburgh.
• Seven different defensive linemen earned All-ACC honors under Partridge from 2017 through 2023.
• He was named by FootballScoop as the National Defensive Line Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2020 while at Pittsburgh.
• The Panthers claimed the 2021 ACC Coastal Division and won the ACC Championship game over Wake Forest.
• Seven players garnered All-ACC Coaches and Media honors under Partridge’s guidance from 2017-23.
• Calijah Kancey (2023 Draft, First Round, 19th pick), Patrick Jones II (2021 Draft, Third Round, 90th pick), Rashad Weaver (2021 Draft, Fourth Round, 135th pick) and Jaylen Twyman (2021 Draft, Sixth Round, 199th pick) were all selected in the NFL Draft after playing for Partridge at Pittsburgh.
• Partridge served as the head coach at Florida Atlantic University from 2014-16.
• During his tenure, the Owls had three of FAU’s best recruiting classes in program history. 
• His players at FAU garnered 39 Conference USA postseason honors, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson was named as the 2016 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.
• Ten players who competed under Partridge at FAU went on to the NFL, including Hendrickson and 2026 Pro Bowl selection Azeez Al-Shaair.
• He served as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the University of Arkansas in the 2013 season, where he coached Trey Flowers and Chris Smith to Second Team All-SEC honors.
• Flowers and Smith both went on to compete in the NFL. 
• Partridge served on the staff at the University of Wisconsin from 2008-12 as associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and specialists coach.
• He worked closely with 2010 Lott IMPACT Trophy winner and All-America selection J.J. Watt while with the Badgers. 
• Watt was selected in the first round with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times.
• Partridge spent the 2003-07 seasons at the University of Pittsburgh as special teams coordinator, linebackers coach, defensive line coach, defensive ends coach and special teams coach. 
• The Panthers’ defense led the Big East and was ranked fifth nationally in total defense per game (297.7 yards per game) in the 2007 season. 
• In 2002, Partridge was the defensive line coach and served as the recruiting coordinator at Eastern Illinois University. 
• The 2002 Panthers earned a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title and reached the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) playoffs. 
• Partridge was a graduate assistant and later became the director of football operations at Iowa State University from 1998-2001.
• He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Drake University from 1996-97 where he worked with the running backs.