Notre Dame icon, longtime sports information director Roger Valdiserri dies at 95
Notre Dame lost one of the most passionate, dedicated and recognizable members of its family on Thursday, as former sports information director Roger Valdiserri died at the age of 95 of natural causes in Oakbrook, Ill. His family made the announcement, per Mike Bernadino of the South Bend Tribune.
Valdiserri grew up in Belle Vernon, Pa. before making his way to the Midwest. The legend worked as a student secretary for former Irish head football coach Frank Leahy and graduated in 1954. He was then the administrative assistant for former head coach Terry Brennan for five years after his graduation.
Next, Valdiserri spent a few years as an employee of both Mercedes-Benz of North America and the Kansas City Chiefs before returning to South Bend to serve his alma mater. He worked as the Notre Dame sports information director from 1966-88 and was instrumental in shaping the way Irish athletics approached media coverage and relationships.
“He mentored Irish legends, helped shaped the local and national narratives and authored some of the best PR campaigns in the sport’s history, never sacrificing a relationship or losing sight of the big picture along the way,” The Athletic’s Matt Fortuna said.
He also famously “altered” the pronunciation of former Irish quarterback Joe Theismann’s last name, which was previously pronounced “Theesmann.” Valdiserri changed it to rhyme with “Heisman” after the Heisman Trophy (although Theismann finished second in the 1970 voting).
In addition to his work as the sports information director, Valdiserri was the assistant athletics director from 1976-82 and was promoted to associate athletic director in 1983. He formally retired in 1995 and truly embodied the university in everything he did.
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“Roger is a true Notre Dame man,” said former Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian, per a “Strong of Heart” profile that examined Valdiserri’s contributions to Notre Dame. “He’s hurt by anything derogatory that’s said about the University.”
Just prior to leaving his career as a sports information director behind, Valdiserri received a special citation for meritorious service from former Notre Dame president Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh. Valdiserri had previously received an honorary Monogram in 1973 as well. He was inducted into the CoSIDA (College of Sports Information Directors Association) Hall of Fame in 1981 and served as its president from 1986 to 1987.
In 2021, Notre Dame created the Roger Valdiserri Student Worker Program and Roger Valdiserri Award. The honor is given to the top communications student assistant in the senior class each year.
“Through his mastery of public relations and unparalleled charisma, Roger Valdiserri has forever changed how the world perceived Notre Dame Athletics,” said a press release announcing the creation of the program and award. “During his three-plus decades working in the athletics department, Valdiserri revolutionized the way colleges and universities showcase teams and student-athletes.”
