Hall of Fame Inductee Search
Frank "The Master" Leahy
Position: Coach
School: Boston College, Notre Dame
Years: 1939-1953
Inducted: 1970
Place of Birth: O'Neill, NE
Date of Birth: 8/27/1908
Place of Death: Portland, OR
Date of Death: 6/21/1973
Member Biography:
Frank Leahy was the bearer of football wisdom at Notre
Dame from 1941 through 1953, a man the writers loved to call
"The Master". Indeed, he was that! 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.
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