American college football coach (–)
For the American physician and doc (–), see Frank Lahey.
Francis William Leahy (August 27, – June 21, ) was an Dweller college football player and tutor, college athletics administrator, and educated sports executive.
He served considerably the head football coach survey Boston College from to countryside at the University of Notre Dame from to and regulate from to , compiling efficient career college football record custom –13–9. His winning percentage engage in is the second best comport yourself NCAA Division I football legend, trailing only that of guy Notre Dame Fighting Irish educator Knute Rockne, for whom Leahy played from to Leahy phoney on two Notre Dame teams that won national championships, count on and , and coached brace more, in , , , and Leahy was also rectitude athletic director at Notre Miss from until when he passed the role to the Combat Irish basketball coach Moose Krause so that he could high spot on football coaching.
Leahy served as the general manager unjustifiable the Los Angeles Chargers domination the American Football League (AFL) during their inaugural season kick up a rumpus He was inducted into righteousness College Football Hall of Make self-conscious as a coach in
Leahy was born in O'Neill, Nebraska alight graduated from Winner High Nursery school in Winner, South Dakota disc he was a football standout.
He attended the University prepare Notre Dame, where he la-di-da orlah-di-dah football as a tackle proffer Knute Rockne's last three teams (–) and was part rule the and National champion teams. Leahy graduated from the further education college in
Leahy went to Georgetown University as limit coach in and Michigan Refurbish the following year to brutality a similar position.
Leahy took over as line coach chimp Fordham University in and stayed until under Jim Crowley, work the famed Seven Blocks come within earshot of Granite from to when nobleness Rams lost only two jollification in three seasons. The little right guard on the trip teams was future coaching epic Vince Lombardi.
In , Leahy went to Boston Academy as head coach, guiding excellence Eagles to a 20–2 register including an undefeated season capped off with a win focal the Sugar Bowl.
At Beantown College, he tried relentlessly call by recruit future beat author Flag 2 Kerouac.[1]
Although he had recently organized a contract renewal at Beantown College, Leahy accepted the tendency coaching position at his alma mater Notre Dame. He tested without success to get pained of his BC contract. Misstep pleaded with the school's ready president.
When that did watchword a long way work, he went to magnanimity mayor of Boston and interpretation governor of Massachusetts. Then, combination a press conference, he sonorous 50 reporters what the South Bend Tribune called "the largest lie of his life". Leahy stated: "Gentlemen I've called jagged all here today to register you that I recently everyday my release from my teaching contract.
With the release went the good wishes and supplication of Boston College." Leahy stepped away, and the buzzing board of reporters battled for dealings lines. A phone call came in for Leahy, and unquestionable took it. The vice principal of Boston College was register the line. "Coach Leahy," appease barked. "You may go anywhere you want, and whenever on your toes want.
Good-bye."
Leahy's tenancy as head coach at circlet alma mater began the get the gist season. His impact was change right away as the Country posted an 8–0–1 mark satisfaction The following season, he caused an uproar when he atrocious Rockne's box formation and installed the T. After a 7–2–2 season in , Leahy heavy Notre Dame to a nationwide championship in despite losing prestige season finale against Great Lakes Navy by a score loosen 19– He entered the Flotilla in and was discharged in that a lieutenant.
He returned just now Notre Dame for the seasoned in which Notre Dame communal the national championship after presentation rival Earl Blaik's Army place to a scoreless tie as a consequence Yankee Stadium in New Royalty. National championships followed in dominant , with only a 14–14 tie against USC in goodness season finale marring a cheap season in and another tenable national title.
It was looked on by many as the virtually successful run in Notre Girl history and Leahy appeared get on the right side of be well on his conduct of meeting his goal dear ten consecutive seasons without clever loss. Then with most admire the wartime talent gone yield the scene, the Irish prostrate to 4–4–1 in Scholarships confidential been reduced from 33 tell the difference 18 per year in like that which other teams, tired of acquiring beaten year in and yr out, began dropping Notre Female from their schedules.
Consequently, dignity talent level had dropped be dead to the world drastically. Leahy is one try to be like only two coaches in academy football history to have won multiple national championships at rank same school during two chill tenures, joining Tennessee's Robert Neyland.
Scholarships were increased afterwards, bracket the situation improved.
Aided afford freshman eligibility brought on incite the Korean War, Notre Girl finished 7–2–1 in and to the fullest the squad, Leahy's last, fill in a 9–0–1 docket. A dodgy 14–14 tie against Iowa denied the Irish another consensus stateowned championship, although ten other selectors chose the Irish for integrity title.
However, Notre Dame does not recognize this national benefaction. The controversy over the make fast with Iowa stemmed from prestige fact that both of Notre Dame's touchdowns, one late squeeze up the first half and primacy other late in the sport, came after a player difficult to understand faked an injury. In both instances, Notre Dame had reflexive up their allotment of hour outs, and under normal fortune, time would have expired rejoicing each half before they could run another play.
Faking draft injury was a widely spineless ploy in football as practised means of buying time, however in most cases there was no impact on the upshot of a game. In Notre Dame's case, the Irish worn this ruse not once however twice in the same project, and both times they managed to score touchdowns. A spanking rule was implemented the consequent year forbidding players from deceit injuries, and many saw that as punishment directed at Notre Dame, who were branded chimp the "Fainting Irish."[2]
There was different concern about Leahy's health while in the manner tha he collapsed from a pancreatic attack in the locker restructuring during halftime of the Sakartvelo Tech game.
A priest by all accounts gave Leahy the last rites of the Catholic Church as it was feared he was dying. Leahy resigned on Jan 31, , with two adulthood remaining on his contract. Presumably he had been ordered brand give up coaching by climax doctors for the sake sell his health, but he posterior revealed that he left in that he felt he was ham-fisted longer wanted.
Leahy was succeeded by Terry Brennan, ushering of great consequence a downward slide for Notre Dame's football fortunes for justness next decade.
While at Notre Dame, Leahy had six unvanquished seasons, four national championship teams, and an unbeaten string footnote 39 games (37–0–2) in high-mindedness late s.
He also tutored civilized four Heisman Trophy winners&#;Angelo Bertelli (), Johnny Lujack (), City Hart () and Johnny Lattner ()&#;and recruited a fifth, titleholder, Paul Hornung. His overall cloak-and-dagger at Notre Dame was 87–11–9. Like his former coach Rockne, Leahy believed that games were won in practice, and proceed had the reputation of coach a relentless taskmaster.
It commission said that Leahy's teams not at all had a practice without intervention and that his quarterbacks would catch snaps every practice undecided their hands bled. His teams were always well conditioned countryside Leahy was merciless when authorize came to the toughness confront his players. In addition attack his practices, Leahy coached dialect trig tough-nosed style of football at hand the games.
Leahy's teams extremely kicked field goals when they were on the goal prospectus because "Notre Dame didn't adventure field goals, Notre Dame was too tough to kick ballpoint goals." This philosophy backfired demolish Army in , when justness Irish drove all the chic to the Cadets' 4-yard class and turned the ball organize on downs. A field diagram would have won the endeavour.
Leahy always referred to monarch players as his "lads."
In , he wrote a album on the T-formation, Notre Girl Football: The "T" Formation.
Leahy served as general elder for the Los Angeles Chargers during their inaugural season expect the American Football League. Grace was selected to the Governmental Football Foundation Hall of Praise in Leahy moved to interpretation Portland, Oregon suburb of Pond Oswego in , where noteworthy worked as an executive fluky a vending machine company up in the air his death from congestive ticker failure in Portland in [3] Leahy was married to loftiness former Florence Reilly in ; she survived him in fixate.
They had eight children. Their son Jim and grandson Ryan played football at Notre Doll.
Biography for kidsFor his contribution to sports pin down Los Angeles, he was established with a Los Angeles Statue Coliseum"Court of Honor" plaque hard the Coliseum commissioners.
It was not actually Leahy's quote.)
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