Former Notre Dame Coach Ara Parseghian Dies at 94

Former Notre Dame head football coach Ara Parseghian has died at the age of 94, the school announced in a statement.

The school said he died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at his home in Granger, Indiana.

"Notre Dame mourns the loss of a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and good man -- Ara Parseghian," Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins said. "Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field."

Parseghian has recently been hospitalized after being treated for a hip infection.

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

Parseghian led the Fighting Irish to two national championships (1966, 1973) in his 11 seasons as coach and had a 95–17–4 record as the Irish head coach before retiring after the 1974 season.

The 1966 season featured the "Game of the Century" between the top-ranked Irish and No. 2 Michigan State, which was the first game in the history of the AP Poll to feature the nation's top two teams.

• An Upside-Down Game: 1966 Notre Dame–Michigan State epic battle

The November 19, 1966 game played at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing ended in a 10–10 tie, virtually handing the Fighting Irish the national championship.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and later became a college football television analyst.

Add us as a preferred source on Google