Marcus Freeman reveals how prior relationship with Gerad Parker impacted Notre Dame offensive coordinator hiring decision

When Notre Dame‘s offensive coordinator job came open following Tommy Rees‘ departure for Alabama, coach Marcus Freeman was determined to get the best coach he could to fill the role. But after a search that included multiple interviews with candidates across the nation, he ultimately settled on an in-house promotion of tight ends coach Gerad Parker.

Freeman insists it was the best hire possible.

“As far as Gerad, listen, I’m not hiring a buddy,” Freeman said. “Let’s make sure we’re very clear. Because I’ve known him for a long time, I had a comfort level with who he is as a person, because that’s important to me that you treat our kids the right way, you treat them with respect, you love them.

“But you’re hiring a guy to run the offense and to have a dang good offense. And at the end of the day I have a strong belief that we will under his direction.”

The two do have some familiarity already, too. Both served on Purdue‘s staff from 2013-16.

In 2016, Parker was actually tabbed Purdue’s interim coach after head coach Darrell Hazell was fired. So Freeman got to watch the new Notre Dame offensive coordinator lead a team close-up. He learned a lot about Parker.

“Probably more than anything is how you handle adversity,” Freeman said. “There was lot of adversity that we went through in West Lafayette and even his time as the head coach our last six games of our last season there together.

“The ability for him to continue to stand in the face of adversity and to not waver from the things he believes in, it tells me a lot about his character. That’s what we want.”

Freeman holds to one basic truth in college football, too. Things are going to get bumpy sooner or later. It’s how you deal with it that matters.

Freeman believes he’s got a Notre Dame offensive coordinator that will handle those swings quite well.

“This road to where we want to go, even for our offense isn’t going to be a smooth one,” Freeman said. “As I’ve always said, it’s a bumpy road. And you have to make sure those leaders, those guys that are in front of the room and leading a certain side of the ball or leading a position group, don’t waver from the philosophy, don’t waver from who they are at the core of their hearts.”