Faust Named University of Akron Coach

Gerry Faust, the former Notre Dame coach who first built his reputation as an Ohio high school football coach, returned to the state Wednesday, taking over the University of Akron’s developing football program.

Akron President William Muse said that Faust received a five-year contract, worth at least $70,000 per year. Benefits could boost the contract’s total into six figures annually, Muse said.

Faust replaced Jim Dennison, Akron’s winningest football coach, who posted a record of 80-62-2 in 13 seasons as coach of the Ohio Valley Conference team. Dennison, 47, was appointed an associate athletic director at the school.

“I am very, very proud, and I stand here with a sense of accomplishment,” said Dennison, who was warmly applauded at the news conference. “I think we are leaving Gerry Faust with a potential championship team with 28 fine seniors.”

Said Faust: “I think Jim’s done an excellent job in building a winning football team. I have a tough act to follow, and I thought about that a little bit when I was making the decision.”

Faust said he expects to feel a lot of pressure.

“Whether you’re coaching at junior high, high school, major college or a Division III college, you are under pressure,” he said.

Faust said he had received inquiries from 13 colleges and tentative offers from nine.

He said he chose Akron because the university’s football program was expected to move from NCAA Division I-AA to I-A in about a year.

Faust, 50, posted a 30-26-1 record at Notre Dame.