Notre Dame Football: Power Ranking All the Coaches in School History
There is no debate: despite its recent struggles, Notre Dame has one of the best football programs in the history of college football.
Their storied history consists of 11 national championships and seven Heisman trophy winners.
The Irish have had several coaches at the helm, guiding their program and shaping it into what it has become today.
Here are the top 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coaches in history.
Note: Instead of having pictures of old men, some of the pictures are of Notre Dame cheerleaders, mascots and fans. But mainly cheerleaders. I'm sure there won't be many complaints.
Honorable Mention
1 of 11
A list of Notre Dame coaches who fell short of the top 10. Their names are followed by the years they coached and their records.
J.L. Morison, 1894, 3-1-1
H.G. Hadden, 1895, 3-1
Frank E. Hering, 1896-98, 12-6-1
James McWeeney, 1899, 6-3-1
Pat O'Dea, 1900-01, 14-4-2
James F. Faragher, 1902-03, 14-2-2
Red Salmon, 1904, 5-3
Henry J. McGlew, 1905, 5-4
Thomas A. Berry, 1906-07, 12-1-1
Victor M. Place, 1908, 8-1
Shorty Longman, 1909-10, 11-1-2
Hunk Anderson, 1931-33, 16-9-2
Ed McKeever, 1944, 8-2
Hugh Devore, 1945 and 1963, 9-9-1
Terry Brennan, 1954-58, 32-18
Joe Kuharich, 1959-62, 17-23
Gerry Faust, 1981-85, 30-26-1
George O'Leary, 2001, 0-0*
Tyrone Willingham, 2002-04, 21-15
Kent Baer, 2004, 0-1**
Charlie Weis, 2005-09, 35-27
*- O'Leary was head coach for only five days before he resigned due to inconsistencies on his resume.
**- Baer coached the Irish in the 2004 Insight Bowl as the interim head coach.
10. Bob Davie
2 of 11
Years: 1997-01
Record: 35-25
Davie gets the nod over Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis due to the fact that the Irish had not lost as much of their luster during his tenure.
His tenure is highlighted by an upset of defending champs Michigan in 1998 and a BCS bowl bid, where they lost the 2001 Fiesta Bowl to Oregon State.
9. Jack Marks
3 of 11
Years: 1911-12
Record: 13-0-2
Marks coached the Irish before they started to gain national recognition, though that doesn't diminish his accomplishments.
He remains the only Irish head coach to never lose a game as head coach, disregarding George O'Leary.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Brian Kelly
4 of 11
Years: 2010-present
Record: 8-5
Kelly's ranking has to do with his potential for turning the Irish around.
His career at Notre Dame got off to a rough start, but he finished strong, capping off a good season with a victory over Miami in the Sun Bowl.
If Kelly can resurrect the Irish, his name will continue to rise on this list.
7. Elmer Layden
5 of 11
Years: 1934-40
Record: 47-13-3
The former member of the "Four Horsemen" was the most successful Notre Dame coach to never win a national championship, guiding the program to 47 victories in his time in South Bend.
If not for leaving the Irish to become commissioner of the NFL, Layden would have added a national championship or two to his resume.
6. Jesse Harper
6 of 11
Years: 1913-17
Record: 34-5-1
Harper was not only a great Notre Dame coach, but he transformed the game of football forever.
Though others had used the forward pass before him, Harper brought it to the forefront.
Led by Charlie "Gus" Dorais and Knute Rockne, the Irish used the forward pass to knock off Army, who were heavy favorites in the game.
5. Dan Devine
7 of 11
Years: 1975-80
Record: 53-16-1
National Championships: One (1977)
Despite only coaching the Fighting Irish for six years, Devine is fifth on Notre Dame's all-time wins list with 53 victories.
The highlight of his short time in South Bend is the 1977 National Championship, which was capped off by a victory in the Cotton Bowl over Texas.
4. Lou Holtz
8 of 11
Years: 1986-96
Record: 100-30-2
National Championships: One (1988)
Possibly Notre Dame's most recognizable head coach, Lou Holtz continued the winning tradition that Dan Devine and others had started before him.
With players such as Heisman trophy winner Tim Brown, Holtz won 100 games while at Notre Dame, second on the school's list.
Holtz also won the 1988 National Championship, having defeated both No. 2 USC and No. 1 Miami in what is known as "Catholics vs. Convicts."
3. Frank Leahy
9 of 11
Years: 1941-43, 1946-53
Record: 87-11-9
National Championships: Four (1943, 1946, 1947, 1949)
Leahy has the most national championships in Notre Dame history with four.
During his tenure in South Bend, he also coached three Heisman trophy winners in Angelo Bertelli, Johnny Lujack and Leon Hart.
His time with Notre Dame took a two year hiatus while he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
2. Ara Parseghian
10 of 11
Years: 1964-74
Record: 95-17-4
National Championships: Two (1966, 1973)
Though others may have more wins and national championships than Parseghian, their resumes lack something that his has.
After a dismal five years before him, Parseghian took a slumping Notre Dame program and brought it back to life.
He won two national championships in his stay in South Bend, and in his first year coached John Huarte to a Heisman trophy.
1. Knute Rockne
11 of 11
Years: 1918-30
Record: 105-12-5
National Championships: Three (1924, 1929, 1930)
There is no debate as to who is the greatest coach in Notre Dame history.
One of the greatest coaches in college football history, Rockne started the winning tradition of Notre Dame.
While further progressing the forward pass from his playing days at Notre Dame, Rockne won three national championships and coached the legendary "Four Horsemen."
No matter what the future holds for Notre Dame football, no coach will have the same impact as Knute Rockne.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
