Former Notre Dame football coach Gerry Faust dies at 89
Nov. 12 (UPI) - Gerry Faust, who won five Ohio high school football state titles before taking over as coach at Notre Dame in the early 1980s, has died, his family announced. He was 89.
"It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of Gerry Faust, loving husband, father, grandfather and coach who dedicated his life to his family, his faith and the teams and players he coached," the Faust family said late Monday.
The Faust family did not announce a cause of death. Faust previously underwent surgery to replace the aortic valve in his heart.
"Throughout an extraordinary life driven by an unwavering and deep devotion to his Catholic faith, he was a beloved mentor to countless young men both on and off the playing field," the Faust family said. "His work ethic, optimism, leadership and humility were legendary. He leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, compassion, and inspiration, reminding us all of the extraordinary impact one life can have.
"While most knew him as a coach, we will long remember him as a wonderful father and grandfather who inspired us through example to live our best lives."
Faust, a Dayton, Ohio, native, played quarterback for the Dayton Flyers during a colligate career that spanned from 1955 to 1957. He went on to become the head coach of Cincinnati's Archbishop Moeller High School from 1962 to 1980. He led the Crusaders to a 178-23 record, including five state titles and four national crowns.
Notre Dame hired Faust in 1980. He started his tenure of leading the Fighting Irish with a 27-9 triumph over LSU. That 1981 season-opening victory helped the Irish take over as the No. 1 team in the country.
But the Irish, who were just four years removed from winning a national title, lost four of their next five games and finished the season with a 5-6 record. They went 6-4-1 a season later and posted matching 7-5 marks in 1983 and 1984. Faust led the Irish to a 5-6 record in 1985, which proved to be his final season in charge. He announced his resignation before the Irish's season-ending 58-7 loss to Miami on Nov. 30, 1985.
Faust posted a 30-26-1 record over his five-year tenure at Notre Dame. He went on to coach Akron for eight seasons, leading the Zips to a 36-49-3 mark.
The Irish went on to hire Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz after Faust's departure. Holtz led the Irish to a 100-30-2 record over 11 seasons, including a national championship-winning 1988 campaign.
Akron fired Faust in 1994. The Zips went 1-10 during his final season.
"As I get older, I know these things are going to happen , but it doesn't make it any easier," former Notre Dame star wide receiver and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown wrote on X.
"We lost the man that had the nerve to offer a kid a scholarship who was on a team that won four games in three years in high school. When no one else saw anything in me, he offered me a scholarship. Gerry Faust! RIP coach. And Thanks!"
Archbishop Moeller High School announced Tuesday that Crusaders football players will wear "GF" helmet decals in honor of Faust for their state semifinal game against Princeton High School on Friday in Mason, Ohio.
The Crusaders (11-1) are the top-ranked high school football team in Ohio.
