Former Kentucky WR Gerad Parker doing 'tremendous job' as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator

Louisa (Ky.) Lawrence County product Gerad Parker played wide receiver for Kentucky from 2000-04 finishing his career with 15 receptions for 168 yards. Immediately after that playing career ended, Parker started his journey in coaching. Nearly two decades later, Parker has reached a very high point.

The Kentucky alum was promoted to offensive coordinator at Notre Dame by second-year head coach Marcus Freeman. When the Irish open the season with Navy in a Week Zero clash in Ireland, Gerad Parker will be calling plays for the first time in his career. The 42-year-old has received strong reviews as he forms a partnership with Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman.

“With him as a leader of a staff, him as a leader of the offense. He’s done a tremendous job, his players truly buy into who he is as a leader,” Freeman said. “That’s to me a reflection of a great leader, when your players start to speak the same language, when your players are acting very similar to the leadership in that offensive room or defensive room. It’s a reflection of leadership so I’m really pleased with what he’s done.”

Through fall camp, Gerad Parker got to participate in unscripted parts of practice to practice the art of play-calling. We will soon learn if those training moments will turn into points on Saturday. Parker began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kentucky in 2007. From there, he made stops at UT Martin and Marshall before landing at Purdue in 2013. In his fourth year in West Lafayette, Purdue head coach Darell Hazell was fired after six games, and Parker was promoted to interim head coach. After stops at Duke, Penn State, and West Virginia, the Kentucky native made it to Notre Dame in 2022.

In year two under Freeman, Parker received a big promotion following a late departure by Tommy Rees to become the Alabama offensive coordinator. After a long search by Freeman, Parker settled in as a play-caller and will look to lead the Irish to a big season this fall. Parker has impressed his boss.

“I’ve been really pleased with the growth of him as a leader,” Freeman said.