Former Notre Dame All-American Tom Schoen passes away at 77
Former Notre Dame All-American safety Tom Schoen passed away in late January, the school announced Friday. He was 77.
Schoen was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1967 and a member of the Irish’s 1966 national championship team. He started at safety each of his final two seasons, leading the team in interceptions both years. He was also the primary punt returner.
Schoen had 7 interceptions during Notre Dame’s 9-0-1 campaign in 1966 and started on a defense that allowed 38 points all season. The Irish gave up just 17 points in the final nine games, culminating with a 51-0 road shutout of No. 10 USC. He snagged four interceptions in 1967.
Several Notre Dame records still belong to Schoen. He holds the single-game record for punt returns (9) and punt return yards (167), set during a game at Pittsburgh in 1967. His 42 punt returns in a single season (1967) are a program best. He is second in single-season punt return yards, with 447 in 1967. His career punt return totals of 71 attempts for 700 yards are fifth and sixth, respectively. He returned two punts for touchdowns.
Schoen had 226 career interception return yards, which ranks third in team history. He is in a five-way tie for the most career interceptions returned for touchdowns (3).
Notre Dame recruited Schoen as a quarterback out of St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He did not play in 1964 (freshmen were not allowed to participate then) and spent the 1965 season as a quarterback, totaling 81 rushing yards. He moved to defense for his last two years.
The Cleveland Browns selected Schoen in the eighth round of the 1968 NFL Draft. He put football on hold, though, when another draft took priority: The U.S. Army’s. Schoen served in South Korea and Fort Campbell, Ky. He returned to the football field in 1970 and played one season for the Browns.
Schoen stayed around football long after his playing career ended. He returned to St. Joseph as an assistant coach in 1988 and was the team’s head coach from 1995-2005. He became the school’s athletic director in 1998 and held that role through 2006. He was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Outside of football, he owned a sporting goods store and a restaurant in the Cleveland area.
Schoen is survived by his wife, Mary, and five children.
