Football
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Tommy Rees joined Nick Saban's staff at The University of Alabama in February of 2023 to serve as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
He arrived in Tuscaloosa after six years coaching the Notre Dame quarterbacks (2017-22) while coordinating the Fighting Irish's offense over the past three seasons (2020-22).
In Tuscaloosa, Rees inherits an offense that ranked fourth nationally in scoring (41.1 ppg) and 11th in total offense (477.1 ypg) but must replace six starters, including 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young at quarterback. Alabama returns three starters along the offensive line and two starting wide receivers in 2023.
In three years as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator, Rees' offenses averaged 33.4 points per game in 2020 on their way to the College Football Playoff, 35.2 ppg to rank 19th nationally in 2021 and 31.8 in 2022.
In 2022, Rees developed first-year starter Drew Pyne at quarterback with the rookie posting an 8-2 record in his 10 starts and throwing for 2,021 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Irish averaged 392.2 yards of total offense per game while rushing for 189.1 yards a game.
In his second season as the offensive signal-caller in 2021, Rees oversaw the growth and development of tight end Michael Mayer, running back Kyren Williams and graduate transfer quarterback Jack Coan.
Under Rees' tutelage, Coan threw for 3,150 yards and 25 touchdowns while tossing just seven interceptions. Mayer set Notre Dame single-season records for receptions by a tight end (71), receiving touchdowns by a tight end (7) and receiving yards by a tight end (840). Williams rushed for 1,000 yards for the second straight season under Rees, becoming only the fifth running back in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Rees helped guide the Irish to the 2020 College Football Playoff with an undefeated regular season and a berth in the Rose Bowl (in Arlington, Texas) against Alabama. Ian Book, a three-year starter at quarterback, captained the Notre Dame offense to 33.4 points per game while averaging 448.5 yards per game as part of a 10-2 record.
Under Rees' guidance, Book finished his Notre Dame career as the winningest signal-caller in school history. He also finished second in career passing yards (8,948), completions (728), completion percentage (63.8) and passing touchdowns (72). Book posted a 30-5 record and guided the Irish to two CFP appearances (2018, 2020). He threw for 2,830 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 2020, 3,034 yards and 34 scores in 2019 and 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2018. Rees was named the 2018 FootballScoop Quarterbacks Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Rees returned to Notre Dame to coach quarterbacks in 2017, inheriting both Book and Brandon Winbush. Winbush led the Irish to the Citrus Bowl, producing a 9-3 record as the starting quarterback. He was the third signal-caller in school history to eclipse both 500 rushing yards and 1,000 passing yards in the same season, joining Tony Rice (1988 and ‘89) and DeShone Kizer (2015).
Prior to his time in South Bend, Rees spent the 2016 season as an assistant for the San Diego Chargers. He worked with an offense that ranked seventh in the NFL in passing (262.4) and ninth in scoring (25.6), while quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 4,386 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Rees started his coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant coach for Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern in 2015. He helped the Wildcats to a 10-3 record, a No. 23 final ranking and a berth in the Outback Bowl.
Rees was a four-year letterwinner at quarterback for the Fighting Irish (2010-13), finishing with a 23-8 (.733) record as the starting quarterback. He ranks second in Notre Dame history in touchdowns passes (61) and third in passing yards (7,351). He was signed as an undrafted free agent following his collegiate career by the Washington Redskins. He graduated from Notre Dame in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in management consulting. He is engaged to Emily Cavalaris.
