Del Alexander 2021-22 Football Staff

The Alexander File

Playing Career

Bowls Played

Coaching Career

Bowls Coached

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Fifth season as the Irish wide receivers coach in 2021
• Mentored graduate student WRs Javon McKinley and Ben Skowronek to standout seasons in 2020, as Skowronek was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and McKinley signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions. In 2020, both receivers posted a game with three receiving TDs. No other Notre Dame player has ever recorded more receiving touchdowns in a single game vs. a Power 5 opponent than McKinley’s (vs. Syracuse) and Skowronek’s three (vs. Boston College).
• Critical in the development of 2020 second-round pick Chase Claypool (Pittsburgh), 2019 third-round pick Miles Boykin (Baltimore) and San Francisco 49ers signee Chris Finke
• Claypool led the Irish and recorded career-highs in receptions (66), receiving yards (1037) and receiving TDs (13) in his final season in 2019
• Boykin, who entered 2018 with 18 career receptions for 334 yards and three TDs, hauled in 59 passes for 872 yards and eight TDs – all team-highs – in his final season in 2018
• Finke, a former walk-on, hauled in 90 catches for 1,032  yards and six TDs in his final two seasons
• Spent five years at Arizona State (2012-16), including four as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach and one as the tight ends coach
• Helped the 2015 Sun Devil aerial attack continue to operate at a high rate of efficiency (299.1 yards/game)
• Mentored graduate transfer wideout Devin Lucien in his only season at Arizona State, where Lucien led the Sun Devils with 1,075 receiving yards and eight TDs on 66 catches (Lucien had caught 58 passes for 752 yards and four TDs in his three previous seasons at UCLA)
• In 2014, Alexander’s wide receivers accounted for 57 percent of the Sun Devils TDs and 61 percent of their total yardage
• Under his tutelage, Jaelen Strong, Gary Chambers and Cameron Smith all recorded career seasons
• Arizona State averaged 36.9 points/game (16th in the nation) and registered 34 receiving TDs (13th in the nation)
• The Sun Devils’ passing game thrived in ‘12 as ASU pass catchers caught 33 TDs (second-most in school history) and helped (then) first-year quarterback Taylor Kelly establish a single-season school record for completion percentage
• Before joining the Arizona State staff, Alexander spent five seasons at Wisconsin as the wide receivers coach (2007-11)
• Part of two Big Ten championships and five bowl appearances, including back-to-back Rose Bowls in 2010 and 2011
• Saw the Badgers offense turn in some of the most prolific passing seasons in school history
• In 2011, Wisconsin passed for 3,280 yards — the highest total in school history
• Mentored All-Big Ten wide receiver Nick Toon, who led the team with 64 catches for 926 yards and 10 TDs
• Toon finished with the third-most receiving yards in school history and the fifth-most TD catches
• In 2009, the Badgers passed for the fourth-highest yardage total in school history (2,770 yards)
• Prior to his tenure at Wisconsin, Alexander served as the running backs coach, assistant travel coordinator, assistant special teams coordinator and NCAA rules representative at the University of San Diego (2005-06) under then-coach Jim Harbaugh
• The Toreros, who led the nation in offense in 2005, won conference championships in both `05 and 2006
• Served as the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach at Oregon State for two years (2003-04)
• Beavers placed wide receivers on the All-Pac-10 first team during each of his two seasons
• Coached wide receivers and quarterbacks at UNLV for three seasons (2000-02). ad also served as the passing game coordinator for the Rebels in 2000-01
• Coached players earned first-team All-Mountain West accolades in each of his three years
• Worked for the San Diego Chargers in 1999 as a senior offensive assistant (running backs) and also had responsibilities with quality control, video analysis, opponent summaries and self scout
• Coached wideouts at UNLV in 1998
• Began coaching career in 1995 at USC as an assistant video coordinator
• Spent two years (1996-97) as a graduate assistant for the Trojans working with the tight ends

Dynamic Disciples

WR Chase Claypool (Notre Dame)

• 2020 NFL Draft Second Round pick (Pittsburgh Steelers)

WR Miles Boykin (Notre Dame)

• 2019 NFL Draft Third Round pick (Baltimore Ravens)

WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame)

• 2018 NFL Draft Sixth Round pick (Green Bay Packers)

WR Devin Lucien (Arizona State)

• 2016 NFL Draft Seventh Round pick (New England Patriots)
• Phil Steele’s Postseason All-Pac-12 Third Team
• Led Arizona State with 1,075 receiving yards and eight TDs on 66 receptions in 2015

WR Jaelen Strong (Arizona State)

• 2015 NFL Draft Third Round pick (Houston Texans)
• 2014 Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and ESPN.com Second Team All-American
• 2014 Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist

WR Rashad Ross (Arizona State)

• Standout receiver for Arizona State who went on to play in the NFL, AFL, XFL and CFL for a football career approaching 10 years as a professional

WR Jared Abbrederis (Wisconsin)

• Winner of the 2013 Burlsworth Trophy
• Finished his collegiate career tied for the Badgers’ all-time receptions record
• Selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft (Green Bay Packers)

WR Nick Toon (Wisconsin)

• 2012 NFL Draft Fourth Round pick (New Orleans Saints)
• Third in school history with 2,447 career receiving yards and 171 career receptions
• Fifth at Wisconsin with 18 career receiving TDs

WR Mike Hass (Oregon State)

• 2006 NFL Draft Sixth Round pick (New Orleans Saints)
• 2005 Biletnikoff Award recipient
• Two-time All-American

WR James Newson (Oregon State)

• 2003 All-Pac-12 First Team
• Second in school history with 3,572 career receiving yards and 213 career receptions
• Tied for first at Oregon State with 20 career receiving TDs