Dick Rosenthal, a Retired Banker, Named Notre Dame Athletic Director

Dick Rosenthal, a retired banker with no experience as an athletics administrator, was named Notre Dame athletic director Tuesday.

Rosenthal, 54, of South Bend, played basketball at Notre Dame and captained the team in 1954, his senior year. He succeeds Gene Corrigan, who resigned last month to become commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I can assure you I think the most important thing I can do in this job is to ensure the integrity of a great, great athletic program,” Rosenthal said. “If we do that, we need never apologize for losing.”

The appointment was announced by the Rev. E. William Beauchamp, executive vice president of the university and chairman of Notre Dame’s faculty board for athletics.

Beauchamp praised Rosenthal’s longstanding support of the school and said his experience in business and personnel management will compensate for his inexperience while he learns the job. “Bottom line, I was looking for somebody I could work with comfortably, as well,” Beauchamp said.

“There are many specific things in the athletic department that will be new to me,” Rosenthal admitted. He acknowledged having no experience negotiating contracts such as the lucrative television rights deals the university routinely signs with networks for basketball and football games.

He condemned professional sports agents who contact college players, jeopardizing their eligibility, and said players should avoid such contacts.