Notre Dame parts ways with wide receivers coach Del Alexander
Notre Dame and wide receivers coach Del Alexander have parted ways, sources confirmed to BlueandGold.com. Alexander has held the position since 2017 but will not remain on staff for head coach Marcus Freeman’s first full season at the helm in 2022.
Alexander told the team he would not be returning after Notre Dame’s 37-35 Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State on Jan. 1.
Freeman retained most of Notre Dame’s 2021 on-field staff. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, defensive line coach Mike Elston, running backs coach Lance Taylor, cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens, safeties coach Chris O’Leary, tight ends coach John McNulty and strength coach Matt Balis are all expected to be on Notre Dame’s staff in 2022.
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Alexander is the third assistant coach from the Brian Kelly regime to not remain on Notre Dame’s staff. Special teams coach Brian Polian has already left the program for LSU, and offensive line coach Jeff Quinn is not expected to return either.
Wide receiver talent recognition, recruiting and development have long been hot topics of discussion surrounding the Notre Dame program. The Irish have only had one receiver eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in the last six seasons (Chase Claypool, 2019). Senior Kevin Austin Jr. led the Irish in that statistic this season with 888 yards. He reeled in 48 receptions, slotting him solo second on the roster in that category. Sophomore tight end Michael Mayer led the way with 71.
Notre Dame missed on Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star wide receiver C.J. Williams in recruiting last month. Williams had been committed to Notre Dame since Aug. 8, but he decommitted two days before the early signing period opened on Dec. 15. Ponchatoula (La.) High four-star pass catcher Amorion Walker flipped from Notre Dame to Michigan on National Signing Day.
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The Irish currently only have one wide receiver signed in the class of 2022; four-star Tobias Merriweather of Camas (Wash.) Union High School.
Whoever Freeman hires as Alexander’s replacement will have to prove his worth on the recruiting trail. Talent at the receiver position is one of the main components holding Notre Dame back from competing with the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State on a consistent basis.
Notre Dame went through plenty of hardship with its wide receivers in 2021. Lawrence Keys III left the program after the season opener, Xavier Watts made a position switch to safety and Joe Wilkins Jr. and Avery Davis were both lost for the season with respective injuries. Austin Jr. announced Sunday he will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. Senior Braden Lenzy announced on the same day his intentions to return for a fifth season, though.
Freeman’s hire will have his hands full trying to stabilize a position group that has experienced quite of bit of everything in the last few months. The impending defensive coordinator hire is probably the most important Freeman will make in the coming months, but don’t overlook the importance of the wide receiver coach addition as well.
–BlueandGold.com’s Mike Singer contributed
