Malloy recalls experiences
By V. Van Buren Giles
News Writer
As University President Father Edward Malloy was growing up in Washington, D.C., he never thought that he would someday become the president of the most highly recognized Catholic university in the country.
Then, Malloy received an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Notre Dame.
"Based on the significant cost of Notre Dame at the time, the only way I could come here was on scholarship," said Malloy. "I was a shooting guard at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C. — our team once held the record for the most continuous wins — 55."
Even now that he is president of Notre Dame, in his office there is still a picture of him as a high school student holding up a championship plaque — with one time Georgetown Hoyas head coach John Thompson in the background.
But a professional basketball career was not in Malloy's future.
"I knew that by my junior year of college I wanted to teach," he said.
He also decided to enter the seminary. His career as a teacher and priest eventually led him to university administration. In 1987, Malloy succeeded famed Notre Dame president and human rights advocate Father Theodore Hesburgh. He is currently in his third five-year term as president.
"The average term for a University president is only three years. I have been very happy filling this post for as long as I have," said Malloy.
There have been many bright moments in Malloy's career.
"Notre Dame is a great place with a diversified faculty and student body. I am happy to have seen our financial aid program flourish while strengthening the religious aspects that are in keeping with the ideals of Notre Dame," he said. "Becoming involved in the preparation and implementation of the fundraising campaign has exceeded a many of my own goals."
Malloy has also traveled to many different countries as a representative of Notre Dame. "The most dramatic places I have been are in India and China. I have traveled to Potala, which is the Dalai Lama's headquarters in Lhasa, Tibet," he said. Malloy admits that one of his favorite destinations is Machu Picchu in Peru, which is known as the lost city of the Inca nation.
In addition, the new theology building, attached to the Decio faculty building, garnishes his name at the benefactor's request. This structure stands as a tribute to Malloy's years of service to the Notre Dame community.
Of course, every Notre Dame president faces bumps on the road during his tenure in office. Malloy remembers some of the darker moments the school has dealt with, including the NCAA violations that shamed the University during the 2000 holiday season.
Filling the head football coach position this past year was also a trying time for the administration.
"Bob Davie worked very hard, but he did not succeed in the goals we set out for him. After his dismissal, we gathered information on every possible candidate that would best suit the position," said Malloy.
Malloy hand selected and presided over the committee that scoured the nation looking for the perfect person to fill one of the most coveted positions in collegiate athletics.
"We found that George O' Leary came highly recommended and was eminently regarded, but there were inadequacies on his resume that we felt prevented him from continuing as the head football coach here at Notre Dame," said Malloy.
"There are going to be crisis that must be handled. I can look back and easily say that the good moments I have experienced at Notre Dame definitely outweigh the bad ones," said Malloy. "I think of the women's basketball championship as one of the greatest moments for the school in recent history."
Malloy believes that athletics is an integral part of Notre Dame, but he also feels that the University's primary mission is to church and society.
When he retires, Monk hopes to continue teaching. He also has two books in the works. One is a collection of stories involving the Notre Dame community, and the other chronicles his travel experiences.
All News Stories for Friday, February 1, 2002
