DYE PASSES AWAY
Former Auburn coach Pat Dye passed away at age 80
AUBURN, Ala .— Pat Dye, the legendary football coach who l ed Auburn' s football program to great heights during the 1980s, died Monday, according to his son, Pat Dye Jr. He was 80 years old.
Dye was hospitalized late last month because of ongoing kidney issues. He tested positive for COVID- 1 9 during his stay, but was asymptomatic, his son said.
The legendary coach led Auburn to a 99-39-4 overall record in 12 seasons, including nine in a row with winning records. The team won four SEC championships, and Dye was named SEC Coach of the Year three times.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank all of the people from around the country who have offered their support and admiration for Dad these past several days,” Dye Jr. said in a statement. “Dad would be honored and humbled to know about this overwhelming outreach. The world has lost a pretty good football
coach and a great man. He was beloved, he touched so many lives and he will be missed by many, especially our family.”
There wasn' t any morning, or any day that went by, when Dye didn't think about how blessed he was to be apart of Auburn: the football program, the university and the community.
That' s what he told many of his former players at are union of his 1989 Tigers team a little more than six months
ago, the Friday before the 2019 Iron Bowl. It was the 30- year anniversary of the first Iron Bowl ever played at Jordan-Hare Stadium, a game he was such an integral part of making happen.
“I didn' t have anything to do with building it or making it like it is,” Dye said. “I just bought into what they already believed.”
But Dye did have so much to do with building Auburn into the football program that it is today.
The Tigers went just 29-25-1 during the five seasons before his arrival, not making a bowl game once. Dye built them back into a power.
“He made a difference in my life,” former Auburn athletics direct or David Housel said. “He came to Auburn at a time when Auburn needed leadership and focus. He provided that leadership and focus and Auburn will be forever better because of him.”