16 APRIL 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED
BY PATRICK ENGEL AND TYLER HORKA
G
erad Parker embraced his wan-
dering thoughts and flowing
ideas, even as he watched the
Notre Dame offensive coordi-
nator search pass his door with little
initial interest in stopping. His first role
in it was helping vet top targets. He re-
fused to think his own candidacy was
over, though, until someone else sat in
Tommy Rees' old office. Not by begging
Marcus Freeman for an interview, but
by making himself ready if the chance
did come.
How? Furiously typing in his phone's
notes app.
"There's a little piece where you let
your mind drift, because I've always
been ambitious," Parker said. "My mind
would drift late at night, and when I was
wondering, I put notes in my phone. I'm
sure [Freeman] knew that if he knows
me at all."
Parker dumped his ideas for Notre
Dame's offense into his phone, just in
case. They would help him if Freeman
gave him a closer look. Worst case, they
were advance prep for other coordina-
tor interviews in future offseasons. He
STAYING IN THE FAMILY
Notre Dame promotes Gerad Parker to offensive
coordinator after a search full of twists and turns
