Guidugli's tutelage transformed Notre Dame's pass game, fueling QB CJ Carr's impressive freshman season and earning him national recognition.
Notre Dame's quarterback's coach Gino Guidugli was named a finalist for the Quarterback's Coach of the Year Award by Football Scoop. Guidugli was one of five coaches named by Football Scoop for this award and one of two Notre Dame coaches named. After watching the significant pass game improvement in South Bend this season, it's not a mystery as to why Guidugli, who also serves as Notre Dame's pass game coordinator, is up for this award.
The Irish finished the season No. 4 in the country in yards per attempt (9.5), 9th in the country in yards per completion (14.1), 26th in the country in passing touchdowns (25) and 5th in the country in rating (168.61). Red shirt freshman CJ Carr stepped into the starting lineup this season, played all 12 games and performed well beyond his year. Carr is an exceptional talent, and one many argued would be ready the moment he stepped on campus, but Guidugli's tutelage also played a role in Carr's impressive first season under center.
Guidugli is a former starting quarterback himself having played for the Cincinnati Bearcats from 2001-2004. In 2005, he played for the Tennessee Titans before bouncing around the CFL and the AFL until 2012. In 2013, he was named Central Michigan's running backs coach and recruiting coordinator before moving up to become their offensive coordinator in 2016. From 2017 to 2022, Guidugli spent his time at his Alma Mater, Cincinnati, as their running backs coach, quarterbacks coach and eventual offensive coordinator in 2022.
He was hired in 2023 as Notre Dame's quarterback coach and was elevated to their pass game coordinator as well in 2024; Guidugli remained in the same role this season. Despite Notre Dame's impressive run last season, his development as a quarterbacks coach remained a question mark due to the Irish taking back to back portal quarterbacks in his first two seasons with Sam Hartman from Wake Forest coming in 2023 and Riley Leonard from Duke last season.
This past offseason, the Irish elected to go with the "home grown kid" and let Carr and redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey battle is out for the starting spot. After watching Carr throw for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first year under center, it's safe to say Guidugli did a proper job in preparing Carr to be the starter. The Ohio native has a talented quarterback room behind Carr that he'll have to continue to develop, but the performance of Notre Dame's starting quarterback this season is a big reason Guidugli is up for the Football Scoop Quarterback's Coach of the Year Award.
Football Scoop Quarterback Coach of the Year Finalists:
Sean Brophy, North Texas
Gino Guidugli, Notre Dame
Joe Judge, Ole Miss
Aaron Roderick, BYU
Chandler Whitmer, Indiana
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