Hall of Fame College Football Coach, Professional Football Player. One of the most highly-regarded coaches to helm the University of Notre Dame football program, he guided the Fighting Irish to two National Championships (1966 and 1973), as he tallied a 95 win, 17 loss, 4 tie record with the school. Born Ara Raoul Parseghian, his father was of Armenian descent, Ara excelled in football, baseball, basketball and golf during his years at Akron South High School in Ohio. He enrolled at the University of Akron, however following the United States entering World War II, he enlisted with the Navy. Following his return home, he enrolled at Miami University (Ohio) and played collegiate football as a halfback under Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 13th round of the 1947 NFL Draft, he ended up with the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference and experienced two world championships (1948 and 1949) during his two years of playing professionally. After retiring as a player, he began his lengthy coaching career, initially as an assistant under Woody Hayes at the University of Miami (Ohio). From 1951 to 1955, he served as head coach at the University of Miami (Ohio) and from 1956 to 1963, he was the head coach at Northwestern University. After retiring as a coach following the 1974 season, he served as a TV analyst for college football games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Later in life, he became active in charitable causes and established the Ara Parseghian Research Medical Foundation for Niemann-Picks disease from which he lost three of his grandchildren to. Additionally, he was involved with research for multiple sclerosis of which afflicted his daughter.
Hall of Fame College Football Coach, Professional Football Player. One of the most highly-regarded coaches to helm the University of Notre Dame football program, he guided the Fighting Irish to two National Championships (1966 and 1973), as he tallied a 95 win, 17 loss, 4 tie record with the school. Born Ara Raoul Parseghian, his father was of Armenian descent, Ara excelled in football, baseball, basketball and golf during his years at Akron South High School in Ohio. He enrolled at the University of Akron, however following the United States entering World War II, he enlisted with the Navy. Following his return home, he enrolled at Miami University (Ohio) and played collegiate football as a halfback under Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 13th round of the 1947 NFL Draft, he ended up with the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference and experienced two world championships (1948 and 1949) during his two years of playing professionally. After retiring as a player, he began his lengthy coaching career, initially as an assistant under Woody Hayes at the University of Miami (Ohio). From 1951 to 1955, he served as head coach at the University of Miami (Ohio) and from 1956 to 1963, he was the head coach at Northwestern University. After retiring as a coach following the 1974 season, he served as a TV analyst for college football games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Later in life, he became active in charitable causes and established the Ara Parseghian Research Medical Foundation for Niemann-Picks disease from which he lost three of his grandchildren to. Additionally, he was involved with research for multiple sclerosis of which afflicted his daughter.
Bio by: C.S.
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