Former Auburn Coach Pat Dye Passes Away

Former Auburn Coach Pat Dye Passes Away

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

AUBURN, Ala. — Pat Dye, Head Coach for the Auburn football team from 1981-1992 has passed away at the age of 80. Dye had previously been hospitalized for kidney complications along with testing positive for the coronavirus. 

Prior to his coaching career, Dye was an All-State, prep All-American and captain of the state championship football team at Richmond Academy in Augusta, Georgia.  In his college career, he was awarded All-American football player honors at the University of Georgia.  After graduating from the University of Georgia,  Dye served in the Army for two and a half years where he also played football. He was voted Player of the Year for all the armed service teams and won the Timmy Award from the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club. Dye continued his football career, playing two seasons in the Candian Football League. 

Dye started his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama.  While at Alabama, he served as the linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator. He had four players who achieved All-American honors. 

His first head coaching job was in 1974 when he led the East Carolina Pirates to a 7-4 record the first season.  He coached the Pirates for six seasons finishing with a 48-18-1 record.

While serving as the Head Coach at Auburn for 12 seasons, he helped lead Auburn to Southeastern Conference Championships in 1983, 1987, 1988, and 1989.  For his outstanding coaching abilities, he was named to the College Hall of Fame. 

His Auburn record was 99-39-4, tying him with Mike Donahue for the second-most wins by an Auburn football coach.  Shug Jordan leads the Auburn Tigers with 176 wins during his tenure from 1951-1975.

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