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It’s official: Gerad Parker is Notre Dame’s new offensive coordinator

Singer headshotby:Mike Singer•02/18/23•

MikeTSinger

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Gerad Parker was hired as Notre Dame tight ends coach in January 2022 (Patrick Engel/Blue & Gold).

The University of Notre Dame announced Saturday morning that it has hired its new offensive coordinator to replace Tommy Rees, who left for the same position at Alabama.

News broke Wednesday from media outlets that Irish tight ends coach Gerad Parker would add offensive coordinator to his duties along with tight ends coach. And that became official Feb. 18.

“I am excited to announce Gerad as our new offensive coordinator,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in a statement. “I know firsthand the person, teacher, recruiter and innovative football mind he is. I look forward to watching our offense flourish under Gerad’s leadership and direction.” 

Notre Dame had brought in Kansas State’s Collin Klein and Utah’s Andy Ludwig for on-campus interviews before moving on Parker as its main target.

The Irish have yet to announce the hiring of Gino Guidugli as its new quarterbacks coach, but that is expected to occur in the coming days. Guidugli worked with Freeman at Cincinnati and was the Bearcats’ offensive coordinator in 2022. He followed Luke Fickell to Wisconsin in the offseason to be the Badgers’ tight ends coach but jumped at the opportunity to work for Freeman in South Bend.

Barring any other staff changes, Notre Dame’s lone opening on the staff is on the offensive line. Veteran coach Harry Hiestand retired Feb. 12.

Before West Virginia, Parker was Penn State’s wide receivers coach in 2019, Duke’s receivers coach in 2018 and an offensive analyst at Duke in 2017. He was Marshall’s wide receivers coach from 2011-12 before Purdue hired him. He also worked at Tennessee-Martin as the passing game coordinator (2008-10) and at Kentucky as a graduate assistant (2007). He played wide receiver at Kentucky from 2000-04.

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THE PARKER FILE

  • Name: Gerad Parker (first name pronounced Jer-ed) 
  • Hometown: Louisa, KY
  • High School: Lawrence County High School
  • College: Kentucky (2003, B.S.; 2005, M.S.)
  • Wife: Kandi
  • Children: Daughters – Kolbi, Gwyneth and Rosalyn;  Son – Oliver

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

  • 2000-04 University of Kentucky Wide Receiver

COACHING CAREER

  • 2005 Raceland HS Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs
  • 2006 Raceland HS Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs
  • 2007 Kentucky Graduate Assistant
  • 2008 UT Martin Running Backs
  • 2009 UT Martin Wide Receivers
  • 2010 UT Martin Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
  • 2011 Marshall Wide Receivers
  • 2012 Marshall Wide Receivers
  • 2013 Purdue Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
  • 2014 Purdue Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
  • 2015 Purdue Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
  • 2016 Purdue Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
  • 2016 Purdue Interim Head Coach
  • 2017 Cincinnati Running Backs
  • 2017 Duke Offense Operations Assistant
  • 2018 Duke Wide Receivers
  • 2019 Penn State Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
  • 2020 West Virginia Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
  • 2021 West Virginia Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
  • 2022 Notre Dame Tight Ends

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