Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FLORENCE, Ky. — Mike Holtzapfel has heard all the media stories about what a great coach and person Ara Parseghian was supposed to be.
And he couldn’t agree any more.
“I don’t’ know how many times I heard it was said that he was a great coach but a better man. And it’s true,” said Holtzpafel.
Holtzapfel played for the St. Joseph Flyers where he helped the team post back-to-back unbeaten football seasons in 1963 and 1964 under coach Pat Sheridan.
Parseghian coached at Notre Dame from 1964 to 1974. He had a 170-58-6overall record and was 95-17-4 with the Irish leading the team to national championships in 1966 and 1973. He died on Wednesday at the age of 94. His .836 winning percentage is third best in Notre Dame school history.
The Fighting Irish went just 2-7 in 1963 and Parseghian took over the next year and went 9-1, nearly winning a national title. Ranked No. 1, the Irish suffered a 20-17 loss in the final minutes to Southern Cal spoiled the Cinderella season.
Notre Dame offered Holtzapfel a scholarship in 1965 and he jumped at the opportunity. He got a great education and was part of a great football program but he also got to experience Parseghian the man and coach first-hand.
One of the things that impressed Holtzapfel and all the players was the toughness but fairness that Parseghian exhibited.
“Something else people don’t realize is that rules were laxed on what you could do then than now. He did things then he did not have to do but they were the right things to do,” said Holtzapfel.
“When you signed you got a scholarship and it was supposed to be for four years, but it was really a one-year renewal. There were very few who just came for a free ride and didn’t give much. But he never tried to run anybody off. He was a taskmaster but a fair one.”
The 1966 national championship team had its 50th anniversary last year and Parseghian was at the reunion.
“He was as sharp as he ever was, he just didn’t get around. I think he had five hip replacements,” said Holtzapfel.
A graduate of Miami, Ohio, who played two years with the Cleveland Browns, it was not unusual for Parseghian to get critical with a player who was not doing something right or giving total effort.
“He was the kind of guy that in a situation when he gets on you really good and he walks away and you think, ‘I deserved that.’ He was a good fair person,” said Holtzapfel.
“He was intense. I’ll say that. He’d get those black eyes and they could drill a hole through you.”
Holtzapfel said Parseghian was always ready to help any time the university asked and he had several charities that he started.
“He’s going to be missed out there,” said Holtzapfel.