Appointment of Richard F. Phelps as Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

The President today announced the appointment of Richard F. "Digger" Phelps as Special Assistant to Gov. Bob Martinez, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). In his role as Special Assistant, Mr. Phelps will serve as liaison between ONDCP and the Department of Justice in coordinating the newly expanded Operation "Weed and Seed" program, a Presidential initiative focusing on violent crime and neighborhood revitalization. This is a newly created position.

For 20 years Mr. Phelps headed the University of Notre Dame basketball program. Prior to joining Notre Dame, Mr. Phelps was head basketball coach at Fordham University for one year. He also served as an assistant coach at Rider College and the University of Pennsylvania. He has coauthored two books, "A Coach's World" and "Digger Phelps and Notre Dame Basketball," and most recently served as a commentator for CBS Sports. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Commission on National and Community Service; the U.S. Postal Service Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee; the Logan Protective Service Board for the Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled of South Bend, IN; and as a volunteer with the Special Olympics.

Mr. Phelps graduated from Rider College in 1963 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of the arts degree by his alma mater in 1981. He was born July 4, 1941, in Beacon, NY. He is married, has three children, and resides in South Bend, IN.