Dennis Franchione Dies at 75 After Coaching Career at Texas A&M, Alabama and TCU

Dennis Franchione, who coached at Texas A&M, Alabama and TCU during a 40-year career that began with an assistant role at Kansas State in 1978, has died at age 75. His family said he had been placed in hospice care after cancer returned earlier this year. Franchione had been diagnosed in 2016 and again in 2021, though the disease had been in remission.

Offensive Innovator With Strong Record

Franchione guided nine teams to conference championships and bowl games while posting a 213-135-2 mark as a head coach. He coached Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Urlacher. He also served at New Mexico, Pittsburg State and Southwestern College before retiring in 2015 after stepping down at Texas State. He had first coached at Texas State from 1990-91.

Turnarounds at TCU and Later Stops

At TCU he took over a team that finished 1-10 the year before his arrival and led it to a 7-5 record that included a Sun Bowl win over USC, the program's first bowl victory since 1956. The Horned Frogs finished 21st in the final AP poll in 2000, their first ranking since 1959. He moved to Alabama and went 10-3 with a first-place finish in the SEC West, though the team was ineligible for postseason play. At Texas A&M he finished with a 32-29 record over five seasons before resigning after a 7-5 campaign. He returned to Texas State in 2011 ahead of its move to FBS.