Marcus Freeman addresses parting ways with WR coach Chansi Stuckey

On Tuesday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program parted ways with wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey. The move caught Fighting Irish and college football fans by surprise as the team waits to see what their 2023 bowl destiny lies.

Shortly after the news broke of Stuckey’s departure, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman delivered a statement on the move and the reason for the sudden change at the coaching position.

“First of all, I want to thank Chansi For all of the work he put into our program. I wish Chansi and his family all the best,” said Freeman. “Over the past few days, we had continued discussions on the overall performance of our wide receiver group and my expectations for the development of that position. I decided it was in the program’s best interest to part ways.”

Matt Fortuna, founder of The Inside Zone, provided additional information revealing that Gerad Parker will now assume the responsibilities Stuckey once held until Freeman and Notre Dame fill the vacant position.

Notre Dame parts way with receivers coach Chansi Stuckey

Stuckey was in his second season as the receivers coach at Notre Dame, after previously working as the receivers coach at Baylor.

Chansi Stuckey started his coaching career at Clemson as a graduate assistant and then in an offensive player development role. He starred for the Tigers during his college football playing career, before being picked in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft by the New York Jets.

Notre Dame and Stuckey parting ways is a bit of a surprise given comments made by Irish head coach Marcus Freeman earlier this week.

“If it’s up to me, as I just told the coaching staff in our staff meeting, I have a strong belief in the coaches that we have in this football program and would love all of them to be back,” Freeman said. “There’s obviously places that we have to improve on all three phases, and the coaches understand that and definitely are up for the challenge.”

However, a day after making that announcement, Notre Dame had a change on its coaching staff.

Chansi Stuckey started his career as a quarterback at Clemson, before transitioning to receiver. He went on to lead the ACC in receptions as a junior and finish third in the ACC in catches as a senior.

Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Stuckey Stuckey coached Tyquan Thornton to career highs in receptions (62), receiving yards (942) and touchdowns (10). Thornton was named second team All-Big 12 while playing under Stuckey.

Before that, Clemson won the ACC and reached the College Football Playoff both seasons Stuckey was on staff with the Tigers.