Notre Dame set to hire Big 12 wide receivers coach

As Notre Dame’s staff starts to come together, the Fighting Irish have their sights set on their new wide receivers coach.

Marcus Freeman is expected to hire Baylor wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey for the same role at Notre Dame, On3’s Matt Zenitz confirmed. The Athletic’s Pete Sampson first reported the move. Stuckey just wrapped up his second season with the Bears.

Earlier Wednesday, Blue and Gold reported Stuckey was on Notre Dame’s campus for an interview. The Fighting Irish also interviewed Purdue co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard, according to BGI.

Stuckey was a two-time All-ACC wide receiver at Clemson and went to the New York Jets in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played in the league from 2007-11 for the Jets, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.

He jumped to the coaching ranks at his alma mater as a graduate assistant in 2019 and moved up to offensive player development coach in 2020. Baylor hired him after that year as its receivers coach. Now, he’s apparently heading to South Bend.

While at Baylor, Stuckey helped mentor Tyquan Thornton, who finished the year as the Big 12’s No. 4 receiver with 942 yards. He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors for his efforts this season.

Report: Notre Dame nearing reunion with former offensive line coach

Marcus Freeman’s first staff at Notre Dame is coming together. He’s reportedly close to bringing back a former Fighting Irish offensive line coach.

Harry Hiestand, who worked at Notre Dame from 2012-17, is close to a return to South Bend, according to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel. Hiestand worked for the Chicago Bears from 2018-19 after leaving the Fighting Irish and hasn’t coached since.

It sounds like that’s going to change.

While at Notre Dame, Hiestand helped develop multiple NFL draft picks, including Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Zack Martin and Ronnie Staley. He has more than 30 years of college coaching experience, getting his start with Penn in 1986. Hiestand also worked at Cincinnati, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee.

Hiestand will take over for Jeff Quinn, who replaced him in 2018. Quinn was let go this offseason.

It’s another high-profile hire for Freeman’s first staff at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish recently landed Brian Mason as special teams coordinator after he spent four years at Cincinnati. One of Freeman’s former teammates, James Laurinaitis, is also heading to South Bend to join his good friend.

The Fighting Irish went 11-2 this season and lost to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day.