Former Fighting Irish signal-caller and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees is getting an interesting orientation during his first few months as Notre Dame’s rookie offensive coordinator. We’ve all heard of baptism by fire. Rees is getting a baptism by virus, so to speak. The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent cancellation of Notre Dame spring football practice have caused Rees to embrace an unfamiliar setting and some unusual methods for his on-the-job training. “To look at this period as lost time or a hindrance would be a mistake,” Rees said. “Everyone is in the same boat right now, so we need to look at this opportunity as that; an opportunity to continue to improve, to continue to implement the things we need to.”

In his first season as Irish offensive coordinator, Rees has to learn and teach from a distance because of isolation orders. (Santiago Flores USA Today/Sports)

Rees said that individual “face-to-face” contact with his offensive players has been ongoing through internet video platforms since the campus closed in mid-March. But it wasn’t until recently that Rees said he was able to gather all of his offensive players together for an unconventional but important electronic meeting via Zoom. “I really just felt like it was a good time to energize the group and remind people of the mission that we have and what we are trying to accomplish,” said Rees, who admitted that working through his 30-minute power-point presentation in front of only a computer camera felt awkward. “This time, right now, is going to directly impact how we perform come this summer or fall, whenever we are back together. “Our guys really respond well to that. They understand that there is a lot of work to be done right now.”

Hamstrung by distance and isolation, Rees is getting creative in both his teaching and learning methods. From a coaching standpoint, Rees polishes his play-calling duties by revisiting previous Notre Dame games and making mock play calls along with the broadcast. “What’s the situation, what would I call?” Rees explained of his thought process during these reviews. “To be great at something you have to practice, and to be really great at something you have to practice it a lot. That’s my way of practicing and my way of preparing myself.” From an offensive implementation standpoint, Rees said the Irish coaches are using every means in their toolbox to forge ahead. “I do feel like progress is being made both from a technical offensive standpoint but also with the culture that we are trying to build,” Rees explained. From a player fitness standpoint, believing in the home workout plans outlined by football performance director Matt Balis and trusting that the guys are following their instructions is the only option. “We coach such great kids and great people that we don’t face a lot of challenges other schools are in terms of guys getting their work in and wanting to do things the right way,” Rees said. “There is not a lot of extra pushing that we have to do to make sure that they get their jobs done. “There’s a tremendous level of trust to everyone in our locker room to make sure that we are handling our business and doing things the right way.”