Episode 37: Digger Phelps | Former Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Head Coach

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

• Rich Spotlight: Digger Phelps
  • Played all sports with the neighborhood kids in Beacon, NY
  • Father was a funeral home director and mortician
  • He convinced his parents to let him try coaching basketball instead of going to embalming school to continue in the family business
  • Spent one year at Fordham as Head Coach and then took the job at the University of Notre Dame in 1971
  • Defeated seven #1 ranked teams in 20 years
  • Most notable #1 ranked team to defeat was UCLA ending their 88-game win streak
  • Felt it was time to move on after 20 years as Head Coach at Notre Dame
  • Briefly contemplated a job at DePaul but decided his coaching days were done and moved into broadcasting and as an analyst with ESPN in 1994
  • Retired from ESPN in 2014 and stays active with painting and recently published another book, entitled “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me”
  • Words of Wisdom from Digger Phelps: “Never assume, follow-up, and always have a back-up.”

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow Digger Phelps on Twitter:  @DiggerPhelps

To Learn More about “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me” Book by Digger Phelps:  “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me”

Feature Image Photo Credit: ESPN