Man Who Broke George O'Leary Resume Exaggeration Story Dies

John 'Doc' Hussey, a longtime journalist in New Hampshire, died Friday at the age of 65.

Among many other items in a notable career, he broke the story that forced Notre Dame to ditch football coach George O'Leary just days after hiring him.

Hussey provided the Union Leader with one of its biggest scoops when he detected something was amiss in the public-relations biography of University of New Hampshire graduate George O'Leary, named head football coach at the University of Notre Dame.
Seeking to do a local-angle story on the new head of the world's most storied college football program, Hussey spoke with several players and the man who coached the UNH football team at the time O'Leary was said to have earned three varsity letters. None of the men remembered O'Leary playing football.
Hussey shared his information with colleague Jim Fennell, whose reporting ultimately revealed that O'Leary had falsified his resume, and the coach -- since named head coach at the University of Central Florida -- was forced to step down at Notre Dame. The Union Leader's coverage of the story earned numerous awards and national acclaim.

He may not have been a big player in national college football media, but his fact-checking thoroughly tarnished O'Leary's otherwise solid reputation and Notre Dame's football program has yet to settle on a reliable coach since.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-07-2008 @ 8:56PM

Mike Clemons said...

Doc Hussey was a great newspaper man and a true character. I knew him for forty years and he always delighted me with his wit and charm whenever we conversed. RIP Doc!

4-08-2008 @ 2:37AM

mbyte84 said...

Go UCF!

4-08-2008 @ 10:05AM

john churnetski said...

Screw him I am sick and tired of journalist who think ruining someones life is worth a reward how impressive he was at BREAKING the SCANDLE. What did that contribute to our world. RIP I do not think so!

4-08-2008 @ 1:37PM

Harrison said...

While I think it is unfortunate that the man is remembered for ruining George O'Leary's career, truth and accountability are basic standards and Coach O'Leary certainly fell short of these in his pursuit of the Notre Dame job. That Coach O. did not feel any sense of shame in lying while pursuing such a high-profile job only indicates he had "gotten away with it" for years until someone stood up and exposed him.

4-08-2008 @ 9:50PM

nickstoli said...

john churnetski...I love how you Clinton lovers always rationalize lying.

I long for the days when wrong was wrong and right was right.

4-09-2008 @ 10:54AM

Nickstoli:

#1 not a clinton lover sorry. #2 Have you ever worked in a news room? Journalists are a very different breed and could care less who they hurt to get their praise. #3 GO is not the first person and will not be the last to embelish his resume people in this world do it everyday and it does not make them bad people. Finally will the world have stopped if GO embelished his resume and became a very good coach at ND? I think lying to The USA about weapons of mass destruction to get us into a war we are mired in now is a far greater evil dont you Nickstoli?

4-09-2008 @ 12:05PM

paul cusumano said...

this guy is a lowlife rat..george oleary was/ is a good coach..who made a mistake.. this punk is a lowlife rat..it took him until oleary getting a job at ND to do his 'rat' check???..

nobody lied about WMD's..bill clinton said he had them al gore said he had the THE WORLD COMMUNITY thought he had them! you liberals are shameless..you will turn your back on your country at every turn...