After Dan Devine departed from Notre Dame following the 1980 season, the University made a surprising choice for its next head football coach. They selected Gerry Faust, who had transformed Cincinnati’s Moeller High School into a national contender. Faust, who had always dreamed of coaching at Notre Dame, passed away on Monday at the age of 89.
Although his tenure at Notre Dame was not marked by significant success in terms of wins and losses—finishing with a record of 30-26-1 over five seasons—his deep affection for the university was unmatched. Faust was cherished by the Notre Dame community, reflecting a mutual love for the institution.
In a 2015 interview on the Notre Dame website, Faust said, “The first thing I do when I arrive, every time, is visit the Grotto… And the first thing I do there is thank the good Lord for having had the opportunity to coach at Notre Dame.” While he may not have achieved legendary status as a coach, Faust undeniably left a lasting impression on those around him. Following his passing, many took to social media to honor his legacy as the former head coach of Notre Dame.
