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25 worst college football coaching hires in history

By Nicholas Ian Allen

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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Oct 15, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; A general view of the Word of Life Mural, commonly known as Touchdown Jesus before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; A general view of the Word of Life Mural, commonly known as Touchdown Jesus before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Gerry Faust, Notre Dame

  • Hired: December 1980
  • Resigned: November 1985
  • Record at Notre Dame: 30-26-1 (.526)
  • Career head coaching record: 73-79-4 (.468)

Gerry Faust deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest high school football coaches in history. Faust started the football program at Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati, Ohio and served as head coach from 1962-80.

In 19 seasons at the school, Faust posted a 178-23-2 record. His teams won 12 league titles and five state championships, finished unbeaten seven times, and were identified as national champions in 1976, ’77, ’79 and ’80. He sent large numbers of players to play college football, including dozens to Notre Dame.

The morning after Moeller’s victory in the 1980 state championship game, Faust was hired as the head coach of the Fighting Irish – a move known to history as “The Bold Experiment.” He inherited a squad that had finished 9-2-1 under Dan Devine and ranked No. 9 in the final AP Top 25 following a loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Ranked No. 3 in the preseason, Faust’s first Notre Dame team rose to No. 1 following a 27-9 victory over LSU in his first game. However, the Irish lost four of their next five games, were out of the Top 25 by the end of September, and slumped to 5-6, which was the first losing season for the program since 1963.

Faust posted another 5-6 record in 1985, his final season, and resigned rather than be fired at the end of his five-year contract. His Notre Dame teams went to two bowl games, but never won more than seven games in a season and never finished a season ranked in the AP poll.

Lou Holtz was hired to replace Faust prior to the 1986 season, and won a national championship with the Fighting Irish in his third year with the program. Faust landed at Akron and coached the Zips to a 43-53-3 record in nine seasons.

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