Dennis Franchione, College Football Coach, Dies at 75

Former college football coach Dennis Franchione died Tuesday at the age of 75, his family announced. Franchione, who coached at Texas A&M, Alabama, and TCU, had been battling cancer.

Franchione's family shared the news of his passing, which was also confirmed by TCU. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and again in 2021, but it had been in remission. Family friends indicated that the cancer had returned earlier this year, leading him to enter hospice care.

During his career, Franchione led nine teams to conference championships and bowl games over three decades. He concluded his coaching career in 2015 with an overall record of 213-135-2.

Franchione began his college coaching career as an assistant at Kansas State in 1978. His head coaching tenures included stops at Southwestern, Pittsburgh State, New Mexico, TCU, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Texas State. He notably coached future NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson during his time at TCU.

At TCU, Franchione took over a program that had struggled in the years prior, leading the Horned Frogs to a Sun Bowl victory in his first season. Current TCU coach Sonny Dykes credited Franchione with setting the program on a path to future success. Alabama Football also released a statement remembering Franchione and his contributions to the program.

Franchione had a notable period at Texas A&M, where he led the team for five seasons. He resigned from Texas A&M in 2007 amidst reports concerning his personal assistant sharing inside information with boosters, though he was cleared of wrongdoing by the athletic director. After a three-year hiatus from coaching, during which he explored broadcasting, Franchione returned to Texas State in 2011, where he had previously coached.

Mike Buddie, TCU's athletic director, stated that Franchione was instrumental to the department's success and was a beloved father, mentor, and friend.