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Benefits December 14, 2001
Career Embellishments Cost Notre Dame Coach His Job
December 14, 2001 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Admitting he
lied about earning three college athletic letters as a
collegiate football player, George O'Leary has stepped down
as Notre Dame football coach - less than a week after he took
the job.
Reported by Fred Schneyer
O’Leary, who left Georgia Tech to become Irish coach, is listed in his Georgia Tech media guide biography as a three-time letter-winner at New Hampshire at offensive line and fullback
But O’Leary went to New Hampshire only for two years and never made it into a game, the Associated Press reported.
“Due to a selfish and thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni and fans,’ O’Leary said in a statement released Friday by the South Bend, Indiana university
Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White said O’Leary has acknowledged inaccuracies in his biographical materials.
Leary Played in N.H. in mid-60s
O’Leary transferred to New Hampshire after two years at the University of Dubuque in Iowa. He said he was on the New Hampshire team in 1967 and 1968, but was unable to play his first year because of mononucleosis, and did not play his second year because of a knee injury.
The sports information department at New Hampshire said it has no record of O’Leary on a football roster and that it does not keep records of letter winners.
O’Leary is listed as a 1968 graduate of New Hampshire with a degree in physical education.
The search for a new coach will begin immediately, White said.