Notre Dame to hire Wisconsin assistant Gino Guidugli as quarterbacks coach
Marcus Freeman is apparently filling former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees’ two titles with two different coaches. His pick for the latter is an old coworker from his Cincinnati days.
The Irish are hiring Wisconsin passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Gino Guidugli as quarterbacks coach, a source confirmed to BlueandGold.com. ESPN was first to report the news.
Guidugli and Freeman worked together at Cincinnati from 2017-20 when Freeman was the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator. Guidugli held several roles in his six seasons at Cincinnati, including running backs coach (2017), quarterbacks coach (2018-19), passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2020-21) and offensive coordinator (2022). He left to follow Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell to Wisconsin in December.
The 39-year-old Guidugli was 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder’s quarterbacks coach in each of Ridder’s four years as a starter. Cincinnati’s offense was 60th nationally in yards per play and 59th in points per game in 2022 when Guidugli was elevated to offensive coordinator. The Bearcats went 9-4 last season. They were 44-7 from 2018-21, reaching the College Football Playoff in 2021 by going 13-0 and beating Notre Dame in South Bend.
Before Cincinnati, Guidugli spent seven years at Central Michigan. He began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 2010 and was promoted to running backs coach in 2013. He stayed with the Chippewas through the 2016 season.
If Freeman was looking for someone with quarterback coaching experience to replace Rees, Guidugli checks that box, even if he’s not also the offensive coordinator and playcaller. He was a four-year starting quarterback at Cincinnati from 2001-04 and left as the Bearcats’ all-time leader in passing yards (11,453), completions (880), attempts (1,556) and touchdown passes (78). Ridder later broke his touchdowns record. Guidugli played in the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League before starting his coaching career.
Guidugli is the first assistant coach hire for Notre Dame this offseason. The Irish still have an offensive line coach opening to fill after Harry Hiestand’s Feb. 12 retirement and the coordinator vacancy. Guidugli’s hiring as quarterbacks coach is an indication Freeman is promoting tight ends coach Gerad Parker to offensive coordinator. Football Scoop reported Wednesday afternoon that Parker will be the Irish’s play caller for the 2023 season.
