The college football world is grieving today after the loss of former Arkansas head coach and athletic director Frank Broyles. According to a statement from his family, Broyles passed away after experiencing complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 92 years old.
Broyles won 71 percent of his games as head coach with the Razorbacks for 19 years. He became the athletic director in 1974 while still the football coach. Broyles eventually retired from the gridiron to focus more on the administrative work following the 1976 season.
He guided the football program to its lone national championship in 1964. Two of his players on that team went on to make their mark with the Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson. Jones was an offensive lineman with the Razorbacks while Johnson played as a defensive lineman.
“Outside of my father, Frank Broyles was the most influential man in my life,” Jones said in a news release. “My thoughts and sincere best wishes are with his family today, and our loss, is shared by millions. Coach Broyles’ name, his legacy, and spirit will continue to guide and grow collegiate athletics in this country for as long as young men and women aspire to compete and prosper from all of the virtues and life lessons that athletic competition provides.”
Jones added “Coach Broyles was a life changing influence for me both from a personal and professional perspective. He taught me, and he taught all of his players, how to be prepared for the fourth quarter, both on the field and in life.”
Current Cowboys and former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden sent out a tweet that said “Very sad day for razorback nation we lost a great one. Frank Broyles will forever be missed.”
