Jumping from the high school ranks to lead one of the most storied programs in college football, he lost games but rarely lost hope.

Former Notre Dame coach Gerry Faust, who was hired directly from the high school ranks in the 1980s, died on Monday, the school confirmed to the Associated Press. He was 89. Faust

Though Gerry Faust, who died Monday at 89, had a 30-26-1 record coaching Notre Dame, he said he "was the happiest guy in the world."