SOUTH BEND, Ind., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- George O'Leary has resigned as head football coach at Notre Dame less than a week after accepting what he considered a dream job because of biographical inaccuracies, the school announced Friday.
O'Leary tendered his resignation, effective Thursday, in the wake of inaccuracies in his personal biography that Notre Dame Director of Athletics Peter White said "constituted a breach of trust that makes it impossible for us to go forward with our relationship."
O'Leary immediately was thrust into the middle of controversy at Notre Dame for information that has appeared in the football media guide at Georgia Tech, where he had been the coach for eight seasons.
The biography stated that O'Leary earned three letters while playing football at the University of New Hampshire. But, he attended the school only two years and never played in a game. Notre Dame included the information in the news release announcing O'Leary's hiring.
O'Leary issued the following statement to the school on Thursday night:
"Due to a selfish and thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni and fans. The integrity and credibility of Notre Dame is impeccable and with that in mind, I will resign my position as head football coach effective December 13, 2001."
White issued the following statement on Friday after the school officially announced O'Leary's resignation.
"I have accepted the resignation of George O'Leary as head football coach at the University of Notre Dame. George has acknowledged inaccuracies in his biographical materials, including his academic background. I understand that these inaccuracies represent a very human failing; nonetheless, they constitute a breach of trust that makes it impossible for us to go forward with our relationship.
"I intend to restart our search for a new head football coach immediately."
O'Leary, 55, accepted the job Saturday night after daylong negotiations in Atlanta.
