Ara Raoul Parseghian (born May 21 1923 in Akron, Ohio) is a former American collegiate football coach. He served as head coach for three teams, most notably the University of Notre Dame team from 1964-1974. During his 11 seasons as head coach of the Fighting Irish (known popularly as "the Era of Ara"), he compiled a 95-17-4 record, for a .836 winning percentage, making him the most successful Notre Dame coach of the modern era.