Happy birthday to Notre Dame coaching great Digger Phelps : In addition to celebrating the nation’s birthday, a great Notre Dame coach is also doing so.
Digger Phelps, who coached the men’s basketball team at the university for many years and was the first men’s head coach in school history to take his team to the Final Four, would have been 82 years old today.
During his time as head coach at Notre Dame, which spanned from 1971 through 1989, Phelps had a record of 393-195. Phelps led Notre Dame to the NCAA Tournament in 14 of those seasons and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) three times more.
Phelps was the men’s basketball coach at Notre Dame with the most victories until being passed by Mike Brey.
Brey is now the coach with the most wins. The job he did as a commentator for college basketball games on ESPN, seen by a whole new generation of fans, brought him the greatest fame.
We want to take this opportunity to wish Digger Phelps and the United States of America a happy birthday before today’s festivities end.