Tom Pagna Dies

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dtm

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I just saw on Irish sports Report that Coach Pagna passed away today. A true ND man. God bless him

Dan
 
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BDIrish4ever

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Rest In Peace, Tom

We are all better for having heard your opinions and evaluations of our favorite university.
 
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BGIF

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Fox 28 WSJV South Bend Obituary

Fox 28 WSJV South Bend Obituary

Former ND Assistant Tom Pagna Dies

Former ND Assistant Tom Pagna Dies - Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, Sports

Former Notre Dame assistant football coach Tom Pagna died Tuesday morning at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. The news confirmed by Notre Dame Sports Information Department brought back a lot of memories of a man who not only was a great coach for the Irish, but a loyal friend, author and a champion for kids in the South Bend/Niles area.
Pagna was known for his time with Ara Parseghian. A native of Cleveland, he played halfback for Ara at Miami of Ohio, earning little All-America honors twice. He played in the NFL with Green Bay and Cleveland and then joined Parseghian's staff at Northwestern in 1959 following 2 seasons at Akron North High School.
Pagna then went to Notre Dame with Ara in 1964 and spent 11 seasons as the Notre Dame backfield coach and offensive coordinator. In his time under the Golden Dome, the Irish won 95 games and national championships in 1966 and 1973.
Pagna stayed in the area and lived in Niles. He served as the Executive Director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association and was the Executive Director of the South Bend-Mishawaka Metropolitan YMCA. He also served as the color man with Tony Roberts on Notre Dame Football's broadcast on the Mutual Radio Network.
As an author, Pagna wrote "Notre Dame's Era of Ara" in 1977, "Petals from a Rose" in 1998 about his mother and family, and "The Phantom Letters: Motivation at Notre Dame in the Parseghian Era" in 2005.
"The Phantom Letters" was an interesting read as Pagna would write inspirational letters under the name, "The Phantom" and post them on players lockers. Back then the players didn't know who was writing the motivational notes.
Pagna told FOX 28 in 2005 before the USC game, " For us that was the big game. Even the practices, we didn't have to get the kids up. They were electric."
Pagna was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2008. His good friend Ara was there to give his introduction.
In 2004 before Charlie Weis was hired, Pagna said he was very disappointed the Irish didn't get Urban Meyer to come to South Bend. He said, "I'm really quite disappointed he didn't come here because I think Notre Dame would be a good match for him and he'd be a good match for Notre Dame." He also said about getting the Notre Dame winning tradition back, "It'll come again and they'll get the right guy in, maybe not this time around, I hope they do."
Tom Pagna was 77 years old.
Click to expand...

R.I.P. Coach
 
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PapaIrish37

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A wonderful Notre Dame man.

Condolences to Coach Pagna's family, his coaching colleagues and former players.

He was a great man who understood what Notre Dame is all about.

Our Lady of Victory pray for us.

...and may perpetual light shine upon him.

RIP Coach.
 
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johnnykillz

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A man of yesteryear's past bound for glory forever... His new field will suit him much better gentlemen, though he was so tailored for it here.
 
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irish1958

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One of my favorite people. RIP Mr. Pagna.
His family has lost a great man.
 
nd1

nd1

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rip coach. nd and his family lost a great man.
 
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