Obituaries

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2009, file photo, Big East commissioner John Marinatto speaks at a news conference in New York. Marinatto, who was commissioner of the Big East during a tumultuous period of conference realignment across college sports, had died. He was 64. Providence College, Marinatto's alma mater and the school where he began a long career in college sports, said he died Saturday, June 12, 2021. A cause of death was not immediately released. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)

John Marinatto, ran Big East in time of tumult, dies at 64

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 14, 2021 05:01 PM EDT

Former Ivy League football coach Frank Navarro dies at 91

By The Associated Press Jun. 02, 2021 12:48 PM EDT
Frank Navarro, the former Ivy League football coach who helped turn around a struggling Division III program at Wabash College, has died. He was 91. ...

Purdue college football players Mike Phipps, left, and Leroy Keys, second from left, are congratulated by Purdue alumni astronauts Neil Armstrong, second from right, and Eugene Cernan, right, following Purdue's victory over Texas A&M in Dallas, in this Sept. 24, 1967, file photo. Purdue football star Leroy Keyes, a two-time All-American and one of the greatest players in school history, has died. He was 74. Keyes' family said he died at his home in Indiana Thursday morning, April 15, 2021, surrounded by his wife and children. (AP Photo/Ferd Kaufman)

Leroy Keyes, gold standard of Purdue football, dies at 74

By Michael Marot Apr. 15, 2021 12:56 PM EDT

In this Dec. 23, 2014 photo, former Florida Atlantic and Miami head coach, Howard Schnellenberger holds the game balls prior to the start of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA college football game between Marshall and Northern Illinois at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. Schnellenberger, who coached Miami to the 1983 national championship and built programs at Louisville and Florida Atlantic, died Saturday, March 27, 2021, at the age of 87, Florida Atlantic announced. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)

Howard Schnellenberger, 87, Miami, Louisville coach, dies

By Steven Wine Mar. 27, 2021 09:54 AM EDT

Father of boy who stole show at '13 Huskers spring game dies

Mar. 01, 2021 10:13 PM EST
ATKINSON, Neb. (AP) — Andy Hoffman, father of the young cancer patient who captured the hearts of college football fans when he ran for a touchdown in Nebraska...

Former Arkansas football great Loyd Phillips has died at 75.

Dec. 28, 2020 06:10 PM EST
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas defensive lineman Loyd Philips, an Outland Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, has died from...

FILE - In this Dec. 26, 1971, file photo, Baltimore wide receiver Ray Perkins is surrounded by Cleveland Browns defenders including Jim Houston (82) and John Garlington (50) after picking up 13-yards in the second half of the AFC Championship game in Cleveland. Perkins, who replaced Hall of Famer Bear Bryant as Alabama’s football coach and started the transition with the New York Giants that led to two Super Bowl titles, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 9, 2020, in Tuscaloosa. He was 79. The school announced his passing on Wednesday, and daughter Rachael Perkins posted news of his death on her Facebook page. (AP Photo/File)

Former Alabama, NY Giants coach Ray Perkins dies at 79

Dec. 09, 2020 02:40 PM EST

Former Maryland QB Scarbath, a star in the early 1950s, dies

Dec. 08, 2020 02:26 PM EST
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Jack Scarbath, a star quarterback for Maryland in the early 1950s and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, has died. He was...

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2016, file photo, former Texas football coach Fred Akers autographs a football during the Texas Sports Hall of Fame induction class news conference in Waco, Texas. Akers died Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, at age 82, his family said. Akers twice led the Longhorns to undefeated regular seasons before Cotton Bowl losses each time denied Texas a chance for a national championship. (Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune Herald, via AP, File)

Fred Akers, Texas coach who flirted with glory, dies at 82

By Jim Vertuno Dec. 07, 2020 09:12 PM EST

Marv Marinovich, former USC football captain, dies at 81

Dec. 04, 2020 06:37 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marv Marinovich, who captained Southern California’s national championship football team in 1962 and famously employed his strength and...

Kentucky O-line coach John Schlarman dies of cancer at 45

Nov. 12, 2020 11:00 AM EST
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — John Schlarman, the Kentucky offensive line coach who was an All-Southeastern Conference player for the Wildcats, has died after a two...

Hall of Fame Jackson State coach W.C. Gorden, 90, dies

Oct. 26, 2020 04:45 PM EDT
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — W.C. Gorden, a Hall of Fame coach who led Jackson State to a 28-game Southwestern Athletic Conference winning streak while building a...

Merritt Norvell, first Black AD at Michigan State, has died

Oct. 21, 2020 06:29 PM EDT
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Merritt Norvell Jr., the first Black athletic director at Michigan State, has died. He was 79. A spokesman at...

Former AP sports writer Ken Rappoport dead at age 85

By Barry Wilner Oct. 13, 2020 06:24 PM EDT
Some people light up a room with their smile. Ken Rappoport could energize an entire arena or stadium with his laugh. Not to mention his...

Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Robertson passes away at age 91

Sep. 07, 2020 05:05 PM EDT
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) — Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Robertson, who called Washington State football for more than 50 years, has died at the age of 91. ...

Longtime Cal football staffer Bud Turner dies at age 84

Sep. 04, 2020 10:14 PM EDT
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Bud “Dog” Turner, who worked in various roles for the California football program for a half-century, has died. He was 84. ...