The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-15
LEAHY TO SIGN
 FOR LONG TERM
 AT NOTRE DAME
Sudden Selection Shocks Eastern Football World;
 New Staff In
By sTEyE sNrDER
United Press staff COrrespOndent)

(OuACeU FEcSS SCaM COrTeSpOuOenG)
 South Bend, Ind, Feb. 15-(UP)- Frank William Leahy of Boston College, 32-years-old and one of the most successful coaches in football, comes back to Notre Dame today to sign 8 long term contract as head football coach and athletic director.
 Terms of the contract were not revealed but campus sources said Notre Dame had matched the five year contract Leahy signed 8 few weeks ago with Boston College Leahy said 1t Eff for a long term" !"
 The soft-spoken coach was a star tackle at Notre Dane-playing on the late Knute Rockne's last and greatest Il tional championship teams of 1929 and 1930-and from the start he was the leading candi- date for the job relinquished by Elmer Layden, new commissioner of the National Football league.
 His brilliant success in two years at Boston College, which twice car- ried him into New Years day bowl games, brought a. flood of offers both from Universities and the Ma tional league. One offer was so good he said:
 'It would have given me the greatest job in football and made me financially independent for life" "
 He preferred, however, to "serve my Alma Mater" I think practically every Notre Dame man wants to do that"
 Leahy arrives in South Bend at 2:58 D. m. He will go at once to the University for the formal sign ing in the presence of university officials, special guests and news papermen. k A reception for the new coach will be held then. He probably will announce when he expects to begin his new job. Layden is ready to assume his new duties of the Ma tional Football league. waiting only for his successor to take over.
 Entire Staff In
 The only plans for the future Leahy has made known is his in tention of bringing his entire staff of four assistants from Boston Col lege. These men-Ed McKeever, for merly of Texas Tech; End Coach Johnny DruZe, who worked with Leahy at Fordham; Line Coach Joe McArdle and Freshman Coach Tom Powers-will replace Layden's stah of Joe Roland. Joe Benda, Chet Grant and Bill Gerney.
 The job at Boston College was Leahy's first as head coach. In his first season, 1889. Boston College won nine and lost to Florida, dur ing the regular season. Clemson beat the Eagles in the Cotton Bowl at Dallas, to 3.
 Last season. the Eagles were un- defeated ill 10 games. ranked as the highest scoring major team ard defeated Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl.
 While Leahy was vacationing in Palm Beach, Fla. after that hnal game he was contracted from Chi cago by telephone and talked about the Notre Dame job with "a friend and a,umnus."
 Later. he and the friend met under assumed rames at Albany, N. Y, and Leahy agred to terms II he could have his Boston College contract dissolved. That was done amicably.
 His contract at Boston College reportedly called for an annual salary of $9,5O0 Layden received SlO,O0O for the 1940 season at Notre Dame and had an $11!000 contract, unsigned, in his pocket when he accepted the commissioners job
 The Rev. J. Hugh ODonnell, president of Notre Dame, announc- edthe appointment late yesterday.
 'In my judgment he said, "Leahy possesses the necessary qualifications to direct our sports program and coach our tootbali team ill accordance with Notre Dame traditions"
 Grateful
 Referring to the willingness oI Boston College to dissolve Leahy $ contract, he said: T am grate1ul for the sympathetic cooperation giv.. en us by that splendid institution of learning"
 Leahy,s coaching career in brief:
 1931-Assistant at Georgetown.
 1932-1933-Lire coach for Jimmy Crowley at Michigan State.
 e33-1939- Followed Chowley to Fordham and there developed the seven blocks of granite" a we'll nigh impregnable line that made Fordham a national contender TOT three seasons.
 1939-194O-Head coach at Boston College. 20 games won. two lost.
 Leahy was born at Winner, s. D., A,,n o1 1ona He is married and