Members
Inductee
ROCKNE, KNUTE
ROCKNE, KNUTE
Born on March 4, 1888
Voss, Norway
March 31, 1931.
Inducted On
April 30, 1977
Location Inducted
South Bend, IN (Posthumously)
Region Number
2
Notre Dame
Coach
North West Division, Chicago, IL
Distinguished himself in half mile run; worked in Chicago Post Office four years to save money for college; was 22 years old when he entered Notre Dame.
University of Notre Dame
1914
Although he did not have a high school degree, he passed the Notre Dame Entrance Exam with a grade of 87 (required entrance grade was 80); won varsity football letter in sophomore year; elected captain of 1913 Notre Dame team; prospective All-American after junior year; set indoor pole vault record of 12' 4" while participating on track team; graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 90.52 GPA.
Inducted into National Football Hall of Fame 1951; US Postal Service Stamp released to honor Rockne 1988; named One of the Greatest Coaches on ESPN Sport Century 1999; was to assist in the Hollywood production of "The Spirit of Notre Dame" starting in April, 1931, but died when his California-bound plane crashed near Bazaar, Kansas; he is buried at Highland Cemetary in South Bend.
Wife, Bonnie; sons, Bill and Knute, Jr.
Coaching Experience: Assistant football coach at Notre Dame until Coach Jesse Harper retired; head football coach at Notre Dame 1918-1930; career record of 105-12-5, a winning percentage of .897; also served as assistant track coach until becoming head football coach.
Coaching Honors: Coached National Championship Teams in 1919, 1920, 1924, 1929, and 1930; had five undefeated seasons without a tie.
Outstanding Players Coached: George "Gipper" Gipp (HB, 1917-1920); Roger Kiley (E, 1919-1921); Eddie Anderson (E, 1918-1921); "The Four Horsemen" - Don Miller (HB, 1922-1924), Jim Crowley (HB, 1922-1924), Harry Stuhldreher (QB, 1922-1924), and Elmer Layden (FB, 1922-1924); Frank Carideo(QB, 1928-1930); Marchy Schwartz (HB, 1929-1931); Marty Brill (HB, 1929-1930); and, Joe Savoldi (FB, 1928-1930).
Coaching Honors: Coached National Championship Teams in 1919, 1920, 1924, 1929, and 1930; had five undefeated seasons without a tie.
Outstanding Players Coached: George "Gipper" Gipp (HB, 1917-1920); Roger Kiley (E, 1919-1921); Eddie Anderson (E, 1918-1921); "The Four Horsemen" - Don Miller (HB, 1922-1924), Jim Crowley (HB, 1922-1924), Harry Stuhldreher (QB, 1922-1924), and Elmer Layden (FB, 1922-1924); Frank Carideo(QB, 1928-1930); Marchy Schwartz (HB, 1929-1931); Marty Brill (HB, 1929-1930); and, Joe Savoldi (FB, 1928-1930).
