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Longtime College Football Coach Dennis Franchione Dies at 75
Confirmed
In Short: Dennis Franchione, a longtime college football coach whose career spanned four decades, died Tuesday at the age of 75.
Dennis Franchione, a longtime college football coach whose career spanned four decades, died Tuesday at the age of 75, his family announced. Franchione, affectionately known as 'Coach Fran,' had been battling cancer since 2016 and had recently entered hospice care.
Franchione began his coaching career as an assistant at Kansas State in 1978 and went on to earn head-coaching opportunities at Southwestern College, Pittsburg State, and New Mexico. He later coached at TCU, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Texas State.
TCU mourned the loss of Franchione, with athletics director Mike Buddie stating, 'TCU mourns alongside the Franchione family at the passing of Coach Fran.' TCU coach Sonny Dykes added, 'College football is in a better place for having Dennis Franchione’s influence on it.'
Franchione's career took off after he left New Mexico for TCU in 1998. In his first year, he led the Horned Frogs to a 6–5 record and a berth in the Norwest Sun Bowl, marking a turning point for the school and his career.
Over his 40-year career, Franchione compiled a 213–135–2 record and guided nine teams to conference championships and bowl appearances. He was known for his offensive creativity, program-building acumen, and steady leadership.
Franchione coached numerous future NFL players, including Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Urlacher. His career was marked by his ability to take struggling programs and turn them around.
In 2007, Franchione resigned from Texas A&M after allegations of insider information being sent to boosters. Despite this, he was one of nine FBS coaches nominated for the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class.
Franchione retired from coaching in 2015 after stepping down at Texas State. He had been dealing with cancer for years, with his family confirming his death Tuesday.
Franchione's impact on college football was significant, and his legacy will be remembered by those who knew him and the programs he led.
Today is a great loss to all who knew him, as Franchione's influence on college football will be felt for years to come.
What this adds
Franchione's death was confirmed by his family and announced by TCU.
Franchione's career took off after he left New Mexico for TCU in 1998.
What's confirmed
- Franchione’s cancer had been in remission following diagnoses in 2016 and 2021, but family friends told the Star‑Telegram that the disease returned earlier this year and he had recently entered hospice care.
- “College football is in a better place for having Dennis Franchione’s influence on it,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement.
- Franchione began his coaching career as an assistant at Kansas State in 1978 before earning head‑coaching opportunities at Southwestern College, Pittsburg State and New Mexico.
- “TCU mourns alongside the Franchione family at the passing of ‘Coach Fran,’” athletics director Mike Buddie said.
- BCSNN — Dennis Franchione, the veteran college football coach whose four‑decade career included high‑profile stops at TCU, Alabama, Texas A&M and Texas State, died Tuesday at the age of 75, his family announced.
- Dennis Franchione, whose college football coaching career included stops at Texas A&M, Alabama and TCU and whose players included Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Urlacher, has died at the age of 75, his family announced Tuesday.
- He retired from coaching in 2015 after stepping down at Texas State.
- The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which first reported the news, said Franchione’s family confirmed his death Tuesday, adding that he battled cancer for a decade.
- Franchione then worked his way up the college football coaching ranks.
- Franchione led his teams to nine conference championships, nine bowl games, four NAIA playoff games and one NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
- He was one of nine FBS coaches who in June were announced as nominees for the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class that will be revealed in January.
What's still developing
- Franchione was diagnosed with cancer a decade ago, according to the Star-Telegram.
- Franchione had one of the most colorful coaching careers of the 21st Century.
- Alabama reportedly offered him a 10-year contract to stay with the team, but with NCAA sanctions looming for violations under former coach Mike DuBose, Franchione stunned the college football world by leaving to replace R.C.
- In 2011, Franchione was hired by Texas State for the second time to help lead the program through its transition to the FBS level.
- Franchione's death was confirmed to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram by family members and announced by TCU.
- The Aggies had high expectations after winning nine games in 2006, but the 2007 season soured when Franchione acknowledged reports that his personal assistant was sending inside information to boosters who paid $1,200 a year to get the emails.
- While athletic director Bill Byrne essentially cleared Franchione of any wrongdoing, the coach told reporters he was resigning after a 38-30 victory over Texas that gave the Aggies a 7-5 record.
- Franchione, known to many as “Coach Fran,” made his biggest mark by taking programs that were struggling and getting them moving in the right direction.
- All told, Franchione finished with 213 wins and eight conference championships.
- FILE - Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione watches his team warm up before their college football game against Baylor Saturday, Sept.
- FILE - Texas State head coach Dennis Franchione looks on during the third quarter of an NCAA football game against Illinois Saturday, Sept.
- FILE - Alabama coach Dennis Franchione watches from the sidelines with quarterback Tyler Watts (14) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Nov.