Gord gets Notre Dame job

Updated: July 28, 2011 3:48PM

Nelson Gord wasn’t actively looking for more work earlier this summer when he ran into Notre Dame athletic director Mike Hennessey.

After all, the Buffalo Grove graduate was juggling several jobs in the baseball industry, including running his own training academy and travel team in Des Plaines.

But Gord was intrigued enough by what the Dons had to offer, so he went through the interview process. Fast forward to Thursday, and Gord confirmed he will be the new baseball coach at Notre Dame.

“It was pretty random,” he said of the initial conversation with Hennessey in June. “When he told me about the opening, I paused and thought about it and decided to throw my hat in the ring.

“I am not sure I would have been interested in a head job at a public school. Too many hoops to jump through. I see this as a tremendous opportunity.”

Gord takes over the program for Bob Kostuch, who resigned following the season. Dominic Catalano coached the Dons during the summer on an interim basis.

“I know Bobby pretty well, and I’ve worked with Notre Dame players before because many of them use our training facility and play on our team,” said Gord, who coaches the Illinois Indians. “I’m really close with a lot of their players and lot of the families at Notre Dame. There will be a lot of familiar faces.”

Kostuch won a state championship in 2004 at Notre Dame, but he won only one regional title since then. The Dons ended their season with a loss to Loyola in the regional semifinals at Notre Dame.

In Gord, the Dons get someone who breathes rosin. A 1999 graduate of Buffalo Grove, Gord went on to play at UIC before playing professionally, including a three-season stretch with the Schaumburg Flyers, until he was 25. He made it as far as spring training with the Houston Astros. Later that year, he realized his playing career probably was over.

“The writing was on the wall,” Gord said.

Instead of walking away from the game, Gord started coaching. He spent time with club teams as well as stops at Harper College and Oakton Community College.

Gord will meet with the Dons for the first time shortly after school starts Aug. 15.

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