Faust, Notre Dame coach in 1980s, dies at 89

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterNov 12, 2024, 09:54 AM ET Close Senior college football author
• Author of seven books on college football
• Graduate of the University of Georgia

Gerry Faust, who was famously plucked from an Ohio high school to lead Notre Dame’s storied football program in 1981, died Monday, his household validated in a statement. He was 89.

Faust, who had no college coaching experience prior to replacing Dan Devine in what was called the “Bold Experiment,” had a 30-26-1 record from 1981 to 1985. He assisted the Combating Irish to simply one bowl triumph, 19-18 over Boston College in the 1983 Liberty Bowl, and his groups lost a minimum of 4 games in each of his 5 seasons on the sideline.Despite Notre Dame

‘s average stretch during his tenure, Faust was grateful for the not likely chance to live out his dream by coaching the Battling Irish. “I only had 26 miserable days at Notre Dame, and that’s when we lost,” Faust told the Los Angeles Times in 2008.”Aside from that, I was the happiest guy on the planet. If I had the chance to do it again and knew the results would be the exact same, I ‘d do it again in a minute. “The son of a successful high school coach in Ohio,

Faust had actually matured dreaming about playing at Notre Dame. At an early age, Faust informed anyone who would listen that he was going to play football for the Irish. “I ‘d enjoyed Notre Dame as long as I can remember,”Faust wrote in his book,

“The Golden Dream.””When I remained in the 5th or sixth grade, I ‘d ride my bike to practice with my cleats slung over my handlebars, my helmet on my head, whistling the ‘Notre Dame Triumph March. ‘Even in the fourth grade, I understood what I wanted and I wasn’t bashful about informing others. “As a high school senior, Faust visited Notre Dame the

day before the season finale versus USC. At that time, recruiting guidelines enabled college groups to exercise employees. Faust was one of 18 quarterbacks on campus that day, according to his book. “I was about 8th in line,”Faust stated.”After I saw the first 7 toss the football

, I understood I could not play football at Notre Dame. They were too good. My next dream was to be the coach at Notre Dame. “Notre Dame used Faust a partial scholarship, however he didn’t accept it due to the fact that he didn’t wish to burden his

moms and dads with the expense of tuition. He played quarterback at the University of Dayton from 1955 to ’57. In 1960, Faust began constructing a brand-new football program with obtained equipment at Archbishop Moeller High School, an all-boys

Catholic School in the Cincinnati residential areas. From 1962 to 1980, Faust’s groups had a 174-17-2 record(.906 winning percentage), and went unbeaten in seven seasons. They recorded nine state championships and 4 national titles.In 1977, Faust wrote a letter to Edmund P. Joyce, Notre Dame’s executive vice president, and expressed his interest in coaching the Fighting Irish if the job opened one day. Cleveland Browns co-founder Paul Brown later on wrote Faust a suggestion, and Faust’s attorney, Ken Schneider, sent out Joyce newspaper clippings about Moeller High’s accomplishments.Three years later, Joyce called Faust and asked to fulfill him at a Cincinnati hotel. It was in the middle of Might, and Joyce confided in Faust that Devine was thinking of stepping down since of his partner’s ailing health.In the preliminary meeting, Joyce told Faust that he had one issue about hiring him: He had actually never hired high school players, which was the lifeblood of every college football program. Faust told him that he ‘d seen Joe Paterno, Bear Bryant, John Robinson and other college coaches recruit his Moeller High players for 18 years.Devine revealed on Aug. 15, 1980, that he would retire at the end of the season. Gerry Faust lived his dream of coaching Notre Dame from 1981-85. AP Photo/Ed Tallies, Submit The day after Faust guided Moeller High to

a 30-7 success over Massillon Washington High in the state national championship,he was worked with as Notre Dame’s new head coach.” He was completely committed to Notre Dame, nearly with an enthusiasm, and he was extremely enthusiastic, totally optimistic,”then-Notre Dame president Theodore Hesburgh wrote in his book, “God, Country, Notre Dame.” “He was the high school football coach with the best record in the country, and [Joyce] and I believed it deserved gambling on him.” When Faust saw Notre Dame’s schedule for 1981, he stated, “I hope my lifelong dream doesn’t end in a nightmare.”Regrettably for Faust and the Battling Irish, his tenure was more of a headache. Notre Dame defeated LSU 27-9 in Faust’s first

game and ascended to No. 1 in the AP survey. It was the peak of his five-year tenure. The Fighting Irish dropped four of their next five games and finished 5-6. Notre Dame went 6-4-1 in 1982 and 7-5 in 1983 and 1984. Joyce and Hesburgh had promised Faust they ‘d provide him five years to build a program and waited him, in spite of installing pressure from alumni and fans to dump him.The Irish lost three of their very first four games in 1985. In a 10-7 loss to LSU on Nov. 23

, 1985, Irish receiver Tim Brown dropped a pass throughout the middle that may have put his team in position to win the game. Brown was heartbroken in the locker room, and Faust knew it was time for his tenure to end.

“Tim, you didn’t cost us the game, “Faust told him.”You wouldn’t have needed to capture the ball if I ‘d made the right decisions. Do not put that concern on you. That concern must be on me.”With a 5-5 record, Faust announced his resignation on Nov. 26, 1985. The Irish lost to Miami 58-7 in his final game.” If you’re ever going to put the

blame somewhere, put it on the coach, “Faust stated at the press conference revealing his resignation.” That’s where it ought to be. We started on the incorrect foot 5 years back and never did bail out of the thing.”Faust coached at the University of Akron for nine seasons (1986 to’ 94), publishing a record of 43-53-3. He worked as a fundraiser at the school before retiring in 2001. Faust went back to Notre Dame often in his later years and was a mainstay in journalism box on game days.”Definitely, it was a highlight of his life to get the Notre Dame task,”Joyce when told ESPN.” It was the response of his dreams from the time he was a toddler. The low part of his life is potentially not prospering there, however he doesn’t let it get him down.

When he’s going to be evaluated up above for his entire life, he may get more credit for the way he’s reacted to hardship than all the good luck he had.”