When Jan Blazi started work at Notre Dame in 1972, she scarcely could have imagined that her career would span more than three decades and include work for six head football coaches, a lovably cantankerous assistant athletic director and a 35-year president of the University.

Jan started her career in the Notre Dame football office as the administrative assistant to Ara Parseghian‘s freshman team staff. She continued in that role until the early part of the Dan Devine era, when she went to work in non-varsity sports as the administrative assistant to Dominick J. “Nappy” Napolitano and Richard J. Hunter. From there, she worked in the Sports Information Department for Bob Best, before ultimately being promoted to the job of administrative assistant to Assistant Athletic Director Col. John J. “Jack” Stephens.

In 1981 she returned to the football office when, upon the recommendation of Sports Information Director Roger Valdiserri, Coach Gerry Faust hired her to be his administrative assistant. She held that position through coaches Lou Holtz, Bob Davie, and Tyrone Willingham, until her retirement in 2003. She also served on the Staff Advisory Council from 1995 to 2000.

Through the years, Jan performed countless tasks for the football program, all with her trademark class, diplomacy, and competence. In addition to working closely with the head football coach on a daily basis, her job required her to be the liaison between the head coach and other athletic staff, University officials, players, members of the media, alumni clubs, fans, and many others.

For her efforts, she received four game balls, and was awarded an honorary monogram by the Monogram Club in 2001.

In retirement, Jan continued to serve, filling in for regular staff when needed, including the honor of working for six months as the administrative assistant to President Emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.

Gerry Faust called Jan “the Rockne of administrative assistants” and said she brought “order and friendship to my life during my Notre Dame years.”

Lou Holtz inscribed a picture to Jan as follows: “I wish I was half as good at my job as you have been as my administrative assistant. … P.S. I wish I had half the friends you have.”

And that is what Jan values most from her years at Notre Dame: the many special members of the Notre Dame family with whom she has developed relationships and who remain valued friends.

Jan died on April 5, 2021.