Notre Dame May Ask for Faust’s Resignation

Notre Dame football Coach Gerry Faust may be asked to resign before the end of the season if the Fighting Irish lose their next two games, the New York Times reported Friday, quoting an unspecified source in the university’s administration.

When asked about the story, Faust said he knew nothing about the plan but admitted that his job is in jeopardy.

“If I’m 5-6, I don’t know if I want to be around,” Faust told the Times. But in an interview with the Cincinnati Post, he denied he would resign, saying, “I will not quit.”

Notre Dame, off to its worst start since 1962, is 1-3 this season and will play 5-0 Army at South Bend, Ind., today. Faust is in the final year of a five-year contract. With a 26-23-1 record, he is one defeat away from becoming the losingest coach in Notre Dame history.

Even if Faust wins the seven games left this season, his five-year record does not warrant receiving another contract to remain as Notre Dame’s coach, the Times’ source said.

“I would think he’d have to voluntarily step down if we lost to Army and Southern California in our next two games,” the Times quoted its source as saying.

If Faust does not resign, the source said, then he may be asked to quit two or three weeks before the end of the season so that a new coach may be named before the recruiting period starts.