Got game? Where the Notre Dame coaches played their ball

A 10-week hiring spree for Marcus Freeman ended last month with the youngest on-field staff a Notre Dame head coach has fielded in at least two decades.

It’s a diverse 11-man group who share generational experiences from both the NCAA and the NFL, as both players and coaches.  

Whether they played college ball at Clemson or Denison, Freeman’s first staff provides myriad perspectives this group gained at many different positions and locations.

So, let’s take a look:

MARCUS FREEMAN, 36

Title: Head coach

College: Ohio State (2004-08)

Notes: A four-time, letter-winning linebacker for the Buckeyes, Freeman earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008 after spending three seasons as a cornerstone of the OSU defense. 

In 39 career games over three seasons, Freeman recorded 264 total tackles — 109 as a junior in 2007 — with 21.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and two interceptions.

During his time in Columbus, Freeman helped Ohio State win four conference titles, make three BCS appearances, and reach two national title games. 

NFL: Drafted, no active duty

Notes: Freeman was drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears in 2009 but was waived before that season began. Freeman made fly-bys with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texas practice squads before retiring in 2010 because of an enlarged heart.

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The coordinators

TOMMY REES, 29

Title: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

College: Notre Dame (2010-13)

Notes: Quietly one of the most productive quarterbacks in program history, Rees went 23-8 as an Irish starter and won the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award as a senior in 2013 after throwing for 3,257 yards and 27 touchdowns. 

Rees’ 7,670 career passing yards rank fourth in program history and his 61 touchdown passes rate third behind Brady Quinn (95) and Ian Book (72). 

NFL: No active duty

Notes: Undrafted in 2014, Rees signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent but was released one week later. 

AL GOLDEN, 52

Title: Defensive coordinator/linebackers

College: Penn State (1988-91)

Notes: Golden became a two-year starter, a three-year letterman and a senior team captain as a reliable tight end for the Nittany Lions.

And while Golden’s collegiate marks of 17 career catches, 231 yards and two touchdowns seem forgettable, one of those scores is anything but. 

As a Penn State junior playing at Notre Dame Stadium in November 1990, Golden made a game-tying touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter that ultimately fueled a 24-21 upset of the top-ranked Irish in mid-November. 

NFL: One season (1992)

Notes: Undrafted, Golden landed with the New England Patriots as a free agent for one season as a backup tight end. Before arriving at Notre Dame last month, Golden spent his previous six seasons as an NFL assistant coach.

The offensive staff

HARRY HIESTAND, 63

Title: Offensive line

College: Springfield College (Mass.)

Notes: Injuries forced Hiestand out of college football after two seasons. 

NFL: None

Notes: Hiestand never played in the NFL but coached the Chicago Bears offensive line for seven seasons over two stints. 

CHANSI STUCKEY, 38

Title: Wide receivers

College: Clemson (2003-06)

Notes: A quarterback recruit, Stuckey moved to wide receiver after his freshman season and recorded 139 catches, 1,750 yards and seven touchdowns as a three-year wideout for the Tigers. A junior in 2005, Stuckey led the ACC with 64 receptions and his 770 receiving yards ranked third in the league. 

NFL: Five seasons (2007-11)

Notes: A 2007 seventh-round pick, Stuckey played wideout for the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. He recorded 106 career receptions for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns. Stuckey provides the best NFL player profile among the Irish coaches. 

GERAD PARKER, 41

Title: Tight ends

College: Kentucky (2000-04)

Notes: Became a four-year letter winner for the Wildcats and an All-SEC academic honoree. As a senior in 2004, Parker enjoyed his best season at Kentucky with 15 catches for 168 yards. 

NFL: None

DELAND McCULLOUGH, 49

Title: Running backs

College: Miami (Ohio) (1992-95)

Notes: A RedHawks legend, McCullough was a three-time All-MAC selection — twice a first-team honoree — and was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and a finalist for the Doak Walker Award in 1992.  McCullough left Miami as the program’s career record holder in rushing yards (4,368) and attempts (949).

While at Miami, McCullough enjoyed three 1,000-yard seasons, scored 37 touchdowns and added 82 receptions for 486 yards. McCullough provides the best NCAA player profile among the Irish coaches.

NFL: No active duty

Notes: Undrafted, McCullough signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent running back in 1996 and spent one season there before working with the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad in 1997. McCullough won a Super Bowl ring in 2020 as the running backs coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. 

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The defensive/special teams staff 

AL WASHINGTON, 37

Title: Defensive linemen

College: Boston College (2002-05)

Notes: A three-year starter and a four-time letter winner at defensive tackle for the Eagles, Washington finished his career with 74 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. Boston College won eight or more games in all four of Washington’s seasons there and claimed victories in each of his four bowl game appearances. 

NFL: None

MIKE MICKENS, 34

Title: Cornerbacks

College: Cincinnati (2005-08)

Notes: While playing under then-Bearcats head coach Brian Kelly, Mickens became the school’s career leader in interceptions (14) and interception return yardage (296).

As a senior in 2008, Mickens earned All-America honors from Playboy and the Football Writers Association of America. He was also a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award that season and helped lead Cincinnati to the Orange Bowl. 

NFL: Drafted, no active duty

Notes: Previously considered first-round talent, Mickens suffered a knee injury as a Cincinnati senior in late November 2008 that dropped the talented cornerback to a late seventh-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2009 draft. During two NFL seasons, Mickens found some practice squad work in Dallas, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati.

CHRIS O’LEARY, 30

Title: Safeties

College: Indiana State (2011-14)

Notes: An All-Indiana honorable mention wide receiver in 2010 out of North Vigo High School in Terre Haute, O’Leary stayed close to home for college and played in 27 career games for Indiana State where he recorded 47 receptions for 397 yards.  

NFL: None

BRIAN MASON, 35

Title: Special teams coordinator

College: Denison (2005-06)

Notes: Mason was a two-time letter winner as running back at Denison University before an injury moved him from player to coach at his alma mater in central Ohio. Upon his retirement as a Denison player, Mason became a student/assistant running backs coach for The Big Red in 2007-08. 

NFL: None