Foge Fazio Is Named Defensive Coordinator at Notre Dame by Holtz

SOUTH BEND, Ind. —  Former University of Pittsburgh football coach Foge Fazio was hired Thursday to join Lou Holtz’s Notre Dame staff as defensive coordinator, school officials said.

Fazio compiled a 25-18-3 record in four years at Pitt but was fired at the end of the 1985 season after posting a 5-5-1 record.

Pitt went to two bowl games under Fazio but lost both--the Cotton Bowl in 1982 to SMU and the Fiesta Bowl in 1983 to Ohio State. Fazio’s 1982 team at one point in the season was ranked No. 1 before losing to Notre Dame.

Fazio, 46, guided the Pitt defense from 1979 until he was named head coach in 1982. His 1980 and 1981 defensive squads were ranked first in total defense.

Fazio coached Pennsylvania high school teams in the mid-1960s before getting his first college job at Boston University in 1967. From there he went to Harvard in 1968, Pitt from 1969-72, the University of Cincinnati from 1973-76, and back to Pitt in 1977 as linebacker coach.

Notre Dame also hired Pete Cordelli, 32, a former assistant to Holtz in Minnesota and a former quarterback for Holtz at North Carolina State.

Cordelli will work with the offense, but a precise position had not been determined, said John Heisler, associate sports information director.

In Minnesota, Cordelli coached the wide receivers, the same job he held at Arkansas also under Holtz.