Gerad Parker reveals when he thought he could be Notre Dame's offensive coordinator

New Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker was introduced to the media Monday as the program’s newest offensive coordinator. During the presser, he was asked when he thought he had a shot at landing the job.

He had a very indirect answer to the question.

“I’ll say this: I know him very well, which is good to know,” Parker said. “Now that’s good and bad. That also means I know that when it’s getting ready to erupt a little bit, I know it’s getting ready to come at us. But I will say this: being able to communicate, look directly at him and see something halfway through that interview, I felt like I did. Just to know that he liked what where it was headed and a genuine approach. I think I felt that energy, but more than anything, you just want to put out more of who you are. And then also have a very clear and concise way of portraying, ‘Hey, this is where we’re at. This is where we want to continue to find ways to grow and push it forward and I believe I did a nice job of being able to push that message to him.”

Parker joined the Fighting Irish staff as the school’s tight ends coach last season. He spent the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator at West Virginia. Prior to joining the Mountaineers, Parker also coached at Kentucky, UT Martin, Marshall, Purdue, Duke and Penn State.

He also served as the interim coach for the Boilermakers in 2016, finishing with an 0-6 record.

Marcus Freeman comments on Notre Dame ‘misconceptions’ during hiring press conference for Gerad Parker

During the press conference Monday to announce Gerad Parker as the new offensive coordinator, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman did address rumors circulating about the school’s inability to buy other candidates out of their current contracts.

“But the misconception of obviously the support… at no time during this process did I not have the support of Jack Swarbrick and the administration,” Freeman said. “I want to be very crystal clear about that. At no point during this process or since my time that I’ve been here do I not feel that I’ve had the support of our administration and Jack. He’s offered to pay whatever buyout there has been. That’s a part of college football. That’s a part of business. There are certain buyouts for different people. Jack Swarbrick has never shied away from paying a buyout.”