WR Coach Chansi Stuckey A 'Perfect Fit" For Notre Dame

Notre Dame conducted a national search for its next receivers coach over the last two weeks and could have hit a home run with Chansi Stuckey. 

The Georgia native might be new to the coaching scene as Stuckey arrives at Notre Dame with just one year of coaching receivers, but his ability to build relationships has those who know him excited for his next stop. 

"Chansi can definitely take a receiver group to the next level," stated a source close to the Clemson program. "At Notre Dame, the big part of it will be the culture and program Coach (Marcus) Freeman wants to build. From Coach Freeman's comments, he seems like the person Chansi would gel with and want to work with. 

"That's a big reason he went to Baylor as he liked what they were building there. If he's making this move, it's not just for personal ambition. Notre Dame is a great place, but all those other things matter just as much." 

Stuckey starred at Clemson and returned in 2019 to get into coaching as a graduate assistant. He was then moved to an offensive development assistant in 2020 before taking the receivers job at Baylor in 2021. 

Those around Clemson were impressed with his ability to put his football career behind him and focus on those around him during his two years at his alma mater. 

"He's a very outgoing guy and loves people," stated the source. "He loves connecting with the community, which was a big part of why he returned to Clemson. Chansi wanted to be around people and be part of the community here. 

"I'm sure he's done the same in Waco and I think he'll be a great addition to Notre Dame from a community standpoint and what Coach Freeman wants to build the program on. Chansi will be a perfect fit for that." 

When it comes to recruiting, Stuckey has the natural ability to connect with anyone. Stuckey might not have the experience of other candidates, but his ability to build relationships will be critical as Notre Dame will expect him to recruit every corner of the country. 

"He's a high-energy guy," explained the source. "He really connected with all the guys at Clemson. He was able to hang out with the players outside the field in his free time. He didn't just connect with the players during practice or meeting time. Chansi was out in the community with the team and made personal connections. 

"He has a gift of connecting with student-athletes and that translates to recruiting. He was helpful in that regard when he was at Clemson." 

In fact, the source remembers a time he observed Stuckey in a Clemson dining hall going out of his way to connect with the student body. 

"There was a time where Chansi, JP Losman and Xavier Brewer were walking through the dining hall and he was walking up talking to students," recalled the source. "That's not necessarily something you see from someone on staff and he had no issue going out of his way to that. 

"It shows who he is as a person. When he goes somewhere, he's invested in not just the football program, but he wants to be part of the school, community and getting to know everyone around him." 

Stuckey is also humble and the source believes someone would never know he had an NFL career unless he wanted you to know. 

"Of all the conversations we've had, I can't really think of any that we just talked football," said the source. "He's a well-rounded person. He loves football. It's his passion and he had a good career in the NFL, but he's not hung up on his personal accolades. 

"Chansi is very much in the now and wants to stay in the moment and lives his life that way."