Notre Dame legend Parseghian dies at age 94

Aug 2, 2017 - 9:03 PM Former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian has died at the age of 94. He passed away after falling ill from hip surgery complications.

"Notre Dame mourns the loss of a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and good man -- Ara Parseghian," university president Father John Jenkins said in a statement. "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."

Parsegian was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. He led the Irish to a 95-17-4 record in 11 seasons in South Bend, winning national championships in 1966 and 1973.

Parseghian had five operations and was treated earlier this month for an infection at a facility in South Bend, Ind.

"You put yourself in a position to believe it's never going to happen, he's never leaving us," Digger Phelps, Notre Dame's basketball coach from 1971-1991, told the Chicago Tribune. "He became a big brother and a mentor to me. I had the greatest respect for him and always was so excited to be around him."

Prior to coaching at Notre Dame, he was head coach at Northwestern and Miami (Ohio) and later became a college football television analyst.

"The entire Northwestern community is saddened by the passing of Coach Ara Parseghian," Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips said in a statement. "I was privileged to get to know Coach Parseghian well during my time at Notre Dame; the impact he had on young men during his 25 years coaching at Miami, Northwestern and Notre Dame can not be overstated. Our love and thoughts are with his wife, Katie, and their family during this trying time."