“Sharing the seat that Coach Frank Leahy once sat in and knowing the responsibilities that come with being the Head Coach of the Notre Dame football program, I am amazed at all that he accomplished. Knowing that he briefly stepped away from football to serve his country, I have the utmost respect for Coach Leahy. Frank Leahy is an icon in the coaching community, often referred to as ‘The Master,’ and nobody can master telling his story better than Ivan Maisel.”
―Marcus Freeman, Head Football Coach, University of Notre Dame
“Maisel [puts] together the picture of a brilliant football coach, but a human haunted by his own demands which physically and emotionally wore him down….a must-read for a college football fan.”
―Mark Blaudschun, Third and Long
“Ivan – I can’t wait to read the Frank Leahy book. I grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and was coached by Frank Leahy II (Fred’s brother) in grade school football and basketball. I was the same age as his son John (Coach Leahy’s grandson), and we played on the same teams and against each other. He went to public schools, and I went to catholic schools, and we had many pickup basketball games in my driveway. Coach Leahy came to one of our games in a wheelchair, shortly before he passed. John was the QB, and I was the center. It is one of the great highlights of my youth. Thanks for writing the book about “the greatest post-WW II Coach in the history of college football, as Beano Cook used to say (pre Nick Saban at Alabama). Thanks again for writing it!”
―Brian Medved
“Mr. Maisel, I saw the recent interview on the Finebaum show about your new book. Frank Leahy was indeed a great coach whose record has been overlooked by some. However, in that era, the Notre Dame football program really benefited from the bias the press had toward the Irish. In 1943, the Irish were ranked No. 1 in the AP poll but were upset in their final game and finished the season with a 9-1 record. The final AP poll was released the following week, but the Irish didn’t fall in the poll and finished the season as the #1 team. This was the only time in the history of the AP poll that a team lost the last game of the season before the final poll was released and still managed to win the national title. Also, that season, the Irish QB, Angelo Bertelli, won the Heisman Trophy award even though he missed almost half the season due to military service. No other player in college history has ever won the Heisman award who played in so few games.
In the 1946 season, Notre Dame finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll with an 8-0-1 record. However, UCLA and Georgia both finished the season with a perfect 10-0-0 record, but neither was awarded the national title. In those days, the final AP poll was released before the bowl games were played. In 1947, Notre Dame also finished ranked in the top spot in the final AP poll with a 9-0 record. Michigan had a similar record but was ranked #2 in the final poll. UM went on to play in the Rose Bowl and won an impressive victory against USC. At that time, the sportswriters conducted a special postseason poll and UM was awarded the top spot.
However, it was decided that the special ballot should not replace the regular final season rankings. The media bias towards Notre Dame continues even today. Currently, the Irish have a 0-2 record this season. However, the Irish are still ranked in the AP top 25 poll that was released this week.”
―Ken North
“American Coach—Ivan Maisel’s masterpiece on Notre Dame football coach Frank Leahy—is one of the great sports books of our time. Years in the making, Maisel paints a portrait of Leahy that is honest, poignant, and riveting from cover to cover. Written in a warm, friendly style that feels as though Maisel is sitting on the next stool at your favorite Irish pub, American Coach reaches beyond X’s and O’s to reveal how Leahy became college football’s second-winningest coach of all time (and the prices he paid to do so). Maisel paints a portrait of an intense, competitive coach adored by millions who struggled to connect with his peers. Leahy’s countless triumphs were glorious, his few tragedies all-too-human. His legacy—and this book—will stay with you forever.”
—Patrick Creadon, director, Catholics v. Convicts and Hesburgh.
“In this detailed biography, sports journalist Maisel (I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye) showcases the personal and professional lives of Notre Dame Football coach Frank Leahy, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Born in Nebraska, in 1908, Leahy became enamored with Notre Dame at a young age and landed a spot on the football team under famed coach Knute Rockne in 1927. After a career-ending injury on the field, he turned to coaching, first as a line coach at Georgetown and then as head coach at Boston College. He returned to Notre Dame as head coach in 1941. Under his leadership, the team went undefeated six times in 11 seasons. By the time he retired in 1953, he had the second-best record in the history of NCAA Division I football (Rokne was first). While this account focuses mostly on Leahy the coach, Maisel also paints a picture of Leahy the person, depicting his marriage struggles and health problems, including the time he collapsed during a game from acute pancreatitis. He died in 1973 at age 64 after being diagnosed with leukemia. Maisel presents a thorough, multifaceted portrait of a legendary college and dedicated Notre Dame alum. This scores.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Hi Mr. Maisel. It was a pleasure meeting you Thursday and hearing about the book-writing process. Here’s the story I wrote based on your talk:
https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/wins-and-losses/.”
―Margaret Fosmoe, Notre Dame Magazine
“Dear Ivan,
My name is Justin Toscano and I am a fan of your work. I’m a writer myself — I most recently covered the Braves for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I’ve taken a large interest in mental performance coaching, as my favorite parts of journalism have been storytelling and learning how elite people think.
I read “Skull Session” and loved it. I was curious how your work helping with Coach Cochran with it came about. As a writer who is interested in becoming a mental performance coach someday, I would love to ghost write a book. I feel I could learn so much from the experience, and I want to keep diving into my passion. As a follower of your work, I assume you met Coach in your time covering college football. But I’m curious if you have any suggestions on how to begin ghost writing books? And congratulations on your latest book!”
― Justin Toscano
“If not for Frank Leahy, there would be no echoes to wake up at Notre Dame, and no fall-time North Star for generations of Irish-Catholic kids like me to cherish. American Coach is a perfect marriage of all-time great college football coach and all-time great college football writer. Ivan Maisel delivers a classic that’s just like Leahy’s 1970 Hall-of-Fame induction—long overdue.”
―Ian O’Connor, author of The Captain, Belichick, and Coach K
“All great coaches are gifted teachers. But the lessons from Leahy’s own life transcend any field or score—in his drive for greatness, and the enormous price he paid to achieve it. Ivan Maisel’s research and reporting create a deeply human portrait of a man, famous and flawed, who graced the cover of Time, built a sporting dynasty, yet ended up sidelined by history and overlooked in memory. Until now, thanks to this remarkable and compelling book.”
―Tom Rinaldi, Emmy award-winning Fox Sports reporter, NY Times bestselling author of The Red Bandanna
“Frank Leahy rarely gets his due in the pantheon of Irish immortals and college football legends. American Coach rectifies that brilliantly and in fascinating detail. As the sport navigates one of its most tumultuous periods, it’s important to understand and appreciate figures like Leahy. His story is what modern college football is built on. Ivan Maisel is this generation’s foremost student and historian of college football. American Coach is a must read for anyone who loves stories of uncommon competitors driven to the brink in the pursuit of excellence.”
―Rece Davis, host of ESPN College Football Gameday
“Frank Leahy rarely gets his due in the pantheon of Irish immortals and college football legends. American Coach rectifies that brilliantly and in fascinating detail. As the sport navigates one of its most tumultuous periods, it’s important to understand and appreciate figures like Leahy. His story is what modern college football is built on. Ivan Maisel is this generation’s foremost student and historian of college football. American Coach is a must read for anyone who loves stories of uncommon competitors driven to the brink in the pursuit of excellence.”
―Rece Davis, host of ESPN College Football Gameday
“This is a poignant memoir about the love that propels us to carry on and move forward after loss. Ivan Maisel gives voice to emotions that many of us have felt but few have been able to articulate.”
―Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and coauthor of Option B
“I can’t explain everything in this short blurb, but know ‘I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye’ was an audiobook I could not stop listening too. You and I are of the same age (David Duffey was one of my best college friends at UT), and I have two daughters and a middle son. I love college football.
My children are all still alive and my son, while not on the spectrum, suffers another mental health problem (addiction). I take your words to heart, and I appreciate you’re writing this book, It makes a difference. God Bless your family and Max.”
― Corky Cummings
“Loss and grief create a division between the uninitiated and those who speak the language. Maisel’s gem of a book bravely bridges two worlds to help translate the many facets in grieving a child’s death. Unvarnished and unsparing, this award-winning sportswriter turns the lens on his own journey to make sense of the unimaginable, demonstrating how we get through it without ever getting over it.”
―Lee Woodruff, #1 New York Times bestselling author of In An Instant
“(T)his beautiful and heart-wrenching work…yields a deeply affecting testament to the fragility of life, and the human capacity for resilience.”
―starred review, Publishers Weekly
“At the center of this beautifully written memoir by a father about his son Max, is a loving, devoted family. Ivan is a sportswriter, his clean, direct writing style is riveting and emotional. One winter day, when his son goes missing on purpose, the family unspools first in shock, then grief, and finally redemption as the author finds a letter written to him from Max from happier times. There is so much love in this memoir, the reader too, is redeemed. There is humor and grace as the Maisels find their way in the world without this beautiful soul in their midst. The family holds their memories of this original, one of a kind young man in their hearts. You will too. I couldn’t put it down.”
―Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife
“Having lost a child myself, it’s hard for me to imagine a parent experiencing anything that is more painful. Losing a child to suicide adds another layer to the grief because we can’t understand why it happened. In I Keep Trying To Catch His Eye, Ivan Maisel shares his family’s story of losing a son to suicide. He examines some deep issues that aren’t easy for us to talk about—suicide, mental health, grief, and recovery. This book will be helpful to anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one but especially to those who have been impacted by suicide.””
―Tony Dungy, NBC Sports, former NFL player/head coach and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Ivan Maisel lends a story of unfathomable tragedy – the loss of his son to suicide – the same eloquence and grace that he has long brought to sports journalism. As much as a memoir, I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye is a moving meditation on navigating grief, with Maisel reaching an understanding that comes to sustain him: That grief is an expression of love.”
― Steve Wieberg, senior writer and editor, Kansas City Public Library
“Such an incredible read. It was at times heart-wrenching, inspirational & compelling, but mostly it was about love. A Dad’s unconditional love for his son.”
―Brett McMurphy, Action Network
“An intimate chronicle of abiding love.”
“Loss and grief create a division between the uninitiated and those who speak the language. Maisel’s gem of a book bravely bridges two worlds to help translate the many facets in grieving a child’s death. Unvarnished and unsparing, this award-winning sportswriter turns the lens on his own journey to make sense of the unimaginable, demonstrating how we get through it without ever getting over it.
―Lee Woodruff, #1 New York Times bestselling author of In An Instant
“This book is one of the most compelling things that I have ever read. It will grab your heart and get you thinking about your own life and relationships in a really profound way.”
―Bruce Feldman, The Athletic
“It is stunningly well written. This book took me on a journey that I did not expect. It was visceral and immediate. I found the book deeply moving, tender and raw at the same time. But more than that, it was something that I, or any reader, can relate to experientially. Emotionally reading it was much like the feeling of having a Band-Aid ripped off my own experiences. This book provides a truly safe space for the reader to open a Pandora’s Box of their own grief while following the path of Ivan’s. His family relationships bring hope as well, since he walks us through how they choose to communicate, be gentle with each other, and celebrate Max in big and small ways.”
―Alice Hutchinson, Byrd’s Books, Bethel, CT