Former Fresno State coach Jim Sweeny, who was with the school for 19 seasons before retiring, has died according to a report from the Associated Press.
The report says that Sweeny was 83-years-old. Fresno State announced the news on Friday night and released no more details about the cause or time of his death. The school released a statement:
"Most of what our football program has accomplished in recent years was clearly made possible by the path that Coach Sweeney blazed for Fresno State football throughout his two decades of leadership," athletic director Thomas Boeh said in a statement. "He was a man of vision, toughness and character who led the Bulldogs to new heights and went on to become a national icon."
Sweeny set a school record with 144 wins during his time with Fresno State and he also coached at Montana State and Washington State. He had 200 career wins in 32 seasons as head coach. He was hired by Fresno State in 1976 and retired in 1996, after which the field at Bulldog Stadium was named for him.
"Coach Sweeney is an icon in college football who put Fresno State football on the national map," current Bulldogs coach Tim DeRutyer said. "His larger than life personality and tenacity in which he coached the game are legendary."
Sweeny kept the Bulldogs competitive for many years and saw 35 players selected to the NFL draft, including quarterback Tent Dilfer, who went on to win a Super Bowl with the Ravens.
