Thoughts on Notre Dame football’s new offensive coordinator/QB coach
Notre Dame football is expected to hire new offensive coordinator Gerad Parker and here are some thoughts on the new Fighting Irish play caller, plus the new QB coach.
The Notre Dame football team has a new offensive coordinator, according to reports, and even though it’s not the guy that Fighting Irish fans were hoping for, it’s a good move all the same.
Andy Ludwig was interviewed by Marcus Freeman and he seemed to be the top target for Notre Dame football in its search for an offensive coordinator after Tommy Rees left, but Ludwig decided to stay at Utah.
Instead of dragging things out, Freeman is expected to announce Gerad Parker according to 247 sports, the former tight ends coach for Notre Dame football as the offensive coordinator.
Parker will do a couple of things. For one, there will be some continuity with the offensive system from last season and that’s a positive thing for Notre Dame. Parker also isn’t new to being an offensive coordinator as he was the play caller for West Virginia a couple of years ago.
Parker was also the passing game coordinator for Penn State back in 2019. He’s also going to get some help as Notre Dame football is also expected to hire Gino Guidugli away from Wisconsin to coach quarterbacks, which will also help replace Rees. Pete Thamel reported the move.
Source: Wisconsin assistant Gino Guidugli is expected to be the next quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. Guidugli spent the last two years as Cincinnati’s play caller, including the CFP bid and win at Notre Dame in 2021. He’s recruited the Midwest extensively.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 15, 2023
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The hire of Guidugli is really interesting to me because he called plays for Cincinnati the last two seasons before joining Fickell at Wisconsin. Guidugli was expected to coach quarterbacks for the Badgers but not call plays, which makes you wonder why he would leave for Notre Dame football.
Maybe he will be a co-offensive coordinator. Or, maybe Freeman just wanted to add another experienced play caller to the mix. Guidugli is also known for being a really strong recruiter and that’s another important asset for any assistant coach in this era.
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Losing Rees hurt. He was a good recruiter, a good play caller, and a solid quarterbacks coach. Notre Dame football isn’t going to replace him with just one guy. It could have with Ludwig, but by adding Guidugli and promoting Parker, Freeman made the best of a bad situation.