Frank Leahy

Bio

Frank Leahy was the bearer of football wisdom at Notre Dame from 1941 through 1953, a man the writers loved to call "The Master". Through 13 years as a head coach - at Boston College and Notre Dame -Leahy logged a record of 107-13-9. Often compared to his former coach, Knute Rockne, Leahy was far less flamboyant and stressed efficiency rather than emotion. His Irish teams displayed the precision which excites the football purists. Leahy shied away from excess praise, and began every season by saying: "The lads don't have it in them this year. I don't see how we can escape losing six games." As the record indicates, his clubs rarely lost. His philosophy was clear in his constant pleas to his players: "Pay the price! Pay the price!" Leahy coached Boston College 1939-40, Notre Dame 1941-43, 1946-53, with two years out for Navy service. His Notre Dame teams were national champions in 1943, 1946, 1947, and 1949. He had a streak of 39 straight games without defeat 1946-50. When he retired his winning percentage, .864, was second highest in history, topped only by Rockne's .881.