He spent one season with Alabama as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2023 season under former head coach Nick Saban. In his only season with Alabama, Rees helped coach the Crimson Tide to a 12–2 season, with a victory in the SEC Championship Game and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals – where they lost to eventual national champion Michigan.
“I’ve grown a lot being in this environment every day, learning from the greatest coach to do it,” Rees said in June 2024. “It’s something I hold in very high regard. And we have developed a very pleasant relationship. I’ll owe him a lot throughout my career (…) This experience is something that can never really be described in words, and I am truly lucky to have this opportunity in. my career.
He previously spent six seasons on the Notre Dame coaching staff, first as quarterbacks coach from 2017 to 2019, then as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020 to 2022. three years as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, the team averaged over 30 points per game each year and qualified for the College Football Playoff in 2020 after posting an undefeated regular season.
Rees helped develop a number of future NFL draft picks at Notre Dame, including TE Michael Mayer (2023 second-round pick), RB Kyren Williams (2022 fifth-round pick), T Liam Eichenberg (second round in 2021), TE Tommy Tremble (third round pick in 2021), T Robert Hainsey (third round pick in 2021), QB Ian Book (pick fourth-round pick in 2021) and WR Ben Skowronek (seventh-round pick in 2021). Under Rees’ guidance, Book finished his career at Notre Dame as the winningest signal-caller in school history and finished second in career passing yards (8,948), completions ( 728), completion percentage (63.8) and passing touchdowns (72). Book went 30-5 and guided the Irish to two CFP appearances (2018, 2020).
Rees began his coaching career in 2015 as a graduate offensive assistant coach under Pat Fitzgerald with Northwestern. He then spent one season with the San Diego Chargers in 2016 as an offensive assistant when quarterback Philip Rivers totaled 4,386 yards and 33 touchdowns.
“That was always a goal when I looked at my career,” Rees said in June 2024 about coaching in the NFL. “I had a chance to work with the Chargers for a year, I was exposed to them and I really enjoyed it. And then in college football, I was really fortunate to work for some really good people and to have good opportunities there. So it was always a goal to come back.
Rees’ experience goes beyond just coaching the game. He was a four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame’s quarterback from 2010 to 2013, finishing with a 23-8 record as as starting quarterback. He finished second in Notre Dame history with 61 touchdown passes and third in passing yards with 7,351 yards and later signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Commanders.
He chose to go into coaching after his playing career ended with the support of his father, Bill – who worked as the Browns’ director of player personnel from 2004 to 2008.
Rees was with the Browns in his early teens, acting as a ball boy helping to kiss Phil Dawson’s kicks or catching quarterbacks, as well as working in the equipment room. He said he grew up in an environment where player evaluation was talked about at the table. His exposure to player personnel helped him think about the path forward after his playing career – and ultimately led him to become a coach.
“I think when you’re playing and you’re not good enough to play at the next level and it ends, you try to find that competitiveness that you’re missing in your life,” Rees said in June 2024. “And I think the closest thing I could find was being a coach and being with the guys every day.”
