AP sources: Irish to promote Parker to OC, hire Guidugli

Notre Dame is promoting tight ends coach Gerard Parker to offensive coordinator and working to hire Wisconsin assistant Gino Guidugli as quarterbacks coach, two people with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because deals were still being finalized and needed university approval.

Football Scoop first reported Parker would be Notre Dame's offensive coordinator.

Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman was forced to retool his offensive staff following the departure this month of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Alabama, where he will hold the same position.

Freeman spoke to Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig about the position, but the school could not come to an agreement with him after he visited the South Bend, Indiana, campus last weekend.

Instead, Freeman turned to two coaches he knows well.

Parker joined Notre Dame's staff last year after Freeman was elevated to head coach to replace Brian Kelly. Parker had been offensive coordinator at West Virginia for the previous two years.

He and Freeman previously worked together as assistants at Purdue from 2013-16.

Guidugli and Freeman worked together at Cincinnati as assistants under head coach Luke Fickell from 2017-20 before Freeman left to become Notre Dame's defensive coordinator in 2021.

Guidugli was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Bearcats last season and followed Fickell to Wisconsin, where he was set to be receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Badgers under offensive coordinator Phil Longo.

Freeman will still have one more opening to fill on his offensive staff. Veteran offensive line coach Harry Hiestand announced his retirement this week.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25