Farewell to Gerry Faust: Celebrating a Notre Dame Coach’s Passionate Legacy

Faust's hiring following Dan Devine's departure from Notre Dame was an all-time shocking move

Sep 1981, unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Gerry Faust (center) yells from the sidelines. / Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

When Dan Devine left Notre Dame after the 1980 season, the University made a shocking hire as its next head football coach.

Gerry Faust, who had turned Cincinnati's Moeller High School into a national powerhouse, was chosen for the job.

Faust, who made it clear from a young age that his dream job was to one day coach at Notre Dame, died Monday at the age of 89.

Faust's time at Notre Dame certainly wasn't deemed a success in terms of wins and losses, but perhaps nobody who has ever called Notre Dame home has ever loved the place more.

Gerry Faust Family Statement on his Passing

Sep 1981, unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Gerry Faust and receiver Dave Condeni (80) on the sidelines during the 1981 season. / Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

The Faust family released the following statement on Monday night announcing the passing of Gerry.

Gerry Faust, #NotreDame football coach from 1981-85, has died at age 89. pic.twitter.com/5nj3fR1Cnb

— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) November 12, 2024

Gerry Faust's Love for Notre Dame

Despite going just 30-26-1 in five years as Notre Dame's head coach, Gerry Faust remained loved in the Notre Dame community, as he loved it back perhaps even more.

“The first thing I do when I arrive, every time, is visit the Grotto,” said Faust in a 2015 piece on the Notre Dame website. “And the first thing I do there is thank the good Lord for having had the opportunity to coach at Notre Dame.”

The piece also notes that for years, Faust would attend four Notre Dame home games a year.

Gerry Faust Remembered on Social Media

Sep 1981, unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Gerry Faust on the sidelines during the 1981 season. / Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

Despite not having a legendary run as Notre Dame's head coach, Faust clearly made an impact on seemingly everyone around him. After news of his death came Monday night, several different people took to social media to remember the former Notre Dame head coach.

Notre Dame Legend Tim Brown Remembers Gerry Faust

Scholarship. Gerry Faust! RIP coach! And l THANKS!!

— Tim Brown (@81TimBrown) November 12, 2024

Recruiting Guru Tom Lemming Remembers Gerry Faust

Was just told the news of the passing of Gerry Faust. what an absolutely wonderful person. Met him back in 1978 at Cincinnati Moeller 2 yrs later he took the Notre Dame job. His personality never changed. No ego, stayed humble and always a friend you can count on. God bless Coach pic.twitter.com/yg08ehpNx6

— Tom Lemming (@LemmingReport) November 12, 2024

Tim Bourret of Clemson Athletics Remembers Gerry Faust

Sad to hear of the passing of Gerry Faust. Not the best coach in Notre Dame history, but perhaps the best person to serve as the ND head coach.

— Tim Bourret (@TimBourret) November 12, 2024

Chuck Freeby Remembers Gerry Faust

Saddened to learn of the death of former @NDFootball coach Gerry Faust.
We often didn’t agree when I was writing a column at The Observer, but he was unfailingly cordial.
His love for Our Lady and her university was genuine and immense. Eternal rest, grant him, O Lord… https://t.co/K3fRFeNuhX

— Chuck Freeby Sports (@ChuckFreeby) November 12, 2024

Dos Leprechauns on Gerry Faust

We lost an absolute GEM this evenig. Coach Gerry Faust has passed away at the age of 89. Rest in Paradise, Coach. pic.twitter.com/teHEnrhW3q

— Dos Leprechauns (@dosleprechauns) November 12, 2024

John Lewandaowski on Gerry Faust

Saddened to learn about the passing of former @NDFootball Coach Gerry Faust. I had the pleasure of getting to know Coach Faust while working as a student assistant in the ND Sports Information Department. His love for Notre Dame was unquestioned, and his energy infectious. https://t.co/iJ0WbI4hmD

— John Lewandowski (@SVSUADLew23) November 12, 2024

Gerry Faust: A Winner in Life

RIP Gerry Faust...although he didn't have the success many hoped he would at the D1 College level but if you met him you knew he definitely was a winner at life https://t.co/gQYWGzHyjA

— leonard farrell (@ljf1017) November 12, 2024

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