Notre Dame tight ends coach Gerad Parker is set to receive a promotion to offensive coordinator, according to multiple media reports on Wednesday.
Tommy Rees served as the Fighting Irish’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, but he exited earlier this month to take the same position at Alabama.
Notre Dame reportedly offered the job to Kansas State’s Collin Klein, who turned down the gig, and then reportedly courted Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig before finally turning to Parker.
Per multiple reports, Gino Guidugli is set to leave Wisconsin to take over Rees’ secondary role as Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach. Guidugli served as the Badgers’ passing game coordinator and tight ends coach.
Parker, 42, was a wide receiver for Kentucky from 2000-04, though all 15 of his receptions came in his senior year.
He started his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2007, then served on the staffs at UT Martin and Marshall before he was with Purdue from 2013-16. He spent time as the Boilermakers’ tight ends coach and wide receivers coach in addition to working as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Parker was with Duke (2017-18), Penn State (2019) and West Virginia (2020-21) before joining head coach Marcus Freeman’s staff at Notre Dame last year.
Notre Dame finished 60th in the nation in total offense last season (396.2 yards per game) and 42nd in scoring offense (31.8 points per game).
