FORT WORTH, TX — Dennis Franchione, whose four-decade college football coaching career included stops at Texas A&M, Alabama and TCU and players such as Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Urlacher, has died. He was 75.
Franchione's death was confirmed Tuesday to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram by family members and announced by TCU.
Franchione was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and again in 2021, but the disease had been in remission. Family friends told the Star-Telegram that the cancer returned earlier this year and Franchione had recently entered hospice care.
Known as an offensive innovator during his career, Franchione led nine teams to conference championships and bowl games. He spent 40 years in coaching, beginning as an assistant at Kansas State in 1978.
Franchione compiled a 213-135-2 record over 30 seasons as a head coach, with stops at Texas A&M, Alabama, TCU, Texas State, New Mexico, Pittsburg State and Southwestern College.
He retired from coaching in 2015 after stepping down at Texas State.
“College football is in a better place for having Dennis Franchione's influence on it, and today is a great loss to all who knew him,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement.
Franchione's career took off after he left New Mexico for TCU in 1998.
He inherited a program that had gone 1-10 in 1997 and had not won a bowl game since 1957. In his first season, Franchione led the Horned Frogs to a 6-5 regular-season record and a berth in the 1998 Norwest Sun Bowl. TCU defeated USC 28-19 in the game, giving the Horned Frogs their first bowl victory in 41 years.
The Horned Frogs followed with consecutive Western Athletic Conference co-championships. Tomlinson led the nation in rushing in 1999.
TCU climbed as high as No. 9 in 2000 as Tomlinson won the Doak Walker Award and again led the nation in rushing. The Horned Frogs finished 10-2 and No. 21 in the final AP poll, marking the program's first appearance in the final rankings since 1959.
Franchione left TCU after the 2000 season and was replaced by defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.
“TCU mourns alongside the Franchione family at the passing of 'Coach Fran,'” TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said in a statement. “Our fortunes as a department would not be what they are today without the efforts of Coach Franchione, his staff, and players.”
Franchione became Alabama's head coach in 2001 and remained with the Crimson Tide for two seasons.
Alabama went 10-3 and finished first in the SEC West during his second season, but the Crimson Tide were ineligible for a bowl or the conference championship game because of sanctions stemming from violations under the previous coaching regime.
Franchione left Alabama after the season to become head coach at Texas A&M.
The Aggies won nine games in 2006, raising expectations entering the following season. During the 2007 season, Franchione acknowledged reports that his personal assistant had sent inside information to boosters who paid $1,200 annually to receive emails.
Athletic director Bill Byrne essentially cleared Franchione of wrongdoing, but Franchione announced his resignation following a 38-30 victory over Texas that gave the Aggies a 7-5 record.
He accepted a buyout and finished his five seasons in College Station with a 32-29 record.
After spending three years in broadcasting, Franchione returned to coaching at Texas State in 2011 as the Bobcats prepared to transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision.
It was Franchione's second stint at Texas State. He previously coached the program in 1990 and 1991 after spending five years at Division II Pittsburg State.
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