Monday, August 4, 2008 - Page updated at 12:15 PM

Ex-Notre Dame assistant coach Yonto dies at 83

Longtime Notre Dame assistant football coach Joe Yonto, who worked under Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz, died Monday. He was 83.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. —

Longtime Notre Dame assistant football coach Joe Yonto, who worked under Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz, died Monday. He was 83.

A university spokesman confirmed Yonto's death but had no details on the cause.

Yonto was a high school coach before he joined Parseghian's staff in 1964 and was the Irish's defensive line coach for 17 years under Parseghian and Devine.

He was Devine's defensive coordinator in 1977-80 and handled football administrative duties under Gerry Faust in 1981-85 as a special assistant to athletic director Gene Corrigan.

Yonto was defensive line coach again in 1986-87 under Holtz and spent three more years as a special assistant to athletic director Dick Rosenthal before his retirement in 1991.

Yonto was on the coaching staff for Notre Dame's national championship teams in 1966, 1973 and 1977. He coached numerous All-America defensive linemen, including Alan Page, Mike McCoy, Walt Patulski and Ross Browner

A 1948 Notre Dame graduate and Orrville, Ohio, native, Yonto was a fullback in 1945 and guard in 1946 before a leg injury ended his playing career. He then served as an assistant coach of the Irish freshman team during his senior year.

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