Former college football coach Dennis Franchione died at the age of 75, his family announced on Tuesday.
Franchione, who’s career included coaching stints with Texas A&M, Alabama and TCU, was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and for a second time in 2021 but it had been in remission. New of his death was shared by TCU and confirmed by family members to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Family friends said the cancer returned earlier this year, which forced Franchione to go into hospice, per the Star-Telegram.
“Coach was a true gentleman who loved his time at TCU and set the program on the path to all of the great success that has followed,” current TCU coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement. “College football is in a better place for having Dennis Franchione’s influence on it, and today is a great loss to all who knew him.”
The Kansas native began his college football coaching career as an assistant at Kansas State in 1978 and earned a head coaching gig at Southwestern in 1981. After a season, he moved on to Pittsburgh State — his alma mater — and Southwest Texas State before joining New Mexico.
He led the team to five winning seasons there before joining the Horned Frogs for three years, which included a both a Sun Bowl and Mobile Alabama Bowl win.
Franchione took over at Alabama for two seasons, going a combined 25-17, before taking the top position with Texas A&M for five seasons and Texas State for four. He called it a career in 2015, leaving the game having led nine teams to conference championships and bowl games over 30 years as a head coach.
He finished with a 213-135-2 overall record.
“Remembering Coach Dennis Franchione and the memories he gave Alabama Football. Rest in peace, Coach Fran. Forever part of the Crimson Tide story,” Alabama Football said in a statement on X.
Franchione really came into his own in his years with TCU where he took on a team that went 1-10 in 1997 and had not won a bowl game since 1957. In his first season, the Horned Frogs upset USC in the Sun Bowl in a 28-19 victory.
Franchione’s squad included future NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, who led the nation in rushing in 1999 and 2000.
“Our fortunes as a department would not be what they are today without the efforts of Coach Franchione, his staff, and players,” TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said Tuesday. “Beyond his talent as a football coach, he was a beloved father, mentor, and friend to so many.”
Franchione ran into some locker room challenges in 2007 at Texas A&M when reports accused his personal assistant of sharing inside information with boosters. Aggies athletic director Bill Byrne cleared him of any wrongdoing, yet Franchione resigned and took a buyout to leave with a 32-29 record at the university.
He took a three-year break from coaching, testing the broadcasting waters before returning to take the helm at Texas State in 2011, where he previously coached 1990-91.
