In his presentation “American Coach: Frank Leahy,” guest speaker Ivan Maisel will discuss the relationship between Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy, from how Rockne found him in a small town in southwest South Dakota, to Leahy’s injury-filled playing career at Notre Dame, to the way that Rockne, in what turned out to be the final weeks of his life, ushered Leahy into a coaching career. Only a decade later, Leahy returned to South Bend to take over as Notre Dame head coach and restore the Fighting Irish to the success enjoyed under Rockne.
A member of the Football Writers Association of America Hall of Fame, Ivan Maisel is an exhibit advisor for Rockne: Life and Legacy. He is the author of the newly-released book American Coach: The Triumph and Tragedy of Notre Dame Coach Frank Leahy. Hired by ESPN in 2002 as its first college football writer, Ivan also has written for Sports Illustrated.
