Episode 37: Digger Phelps | Former Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Head Coach
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
About the author, Richmond Weaver
Richmond, a graduate of Clemson University has been involved with sports for most of his life and developed a passion for basketball and sports at an early age. He currently lives in Greenville, SC with his wife Karen, founder of Upstate Esthetics and their three kids.