Sports Wizard Pat Dye Dies at 80

Patrick Fain Dye, the Former Auburn coach died at 80. He was an American football player, college athletics administrator, and coach. At Auburn University, and the University of Wyoming, East Carolina University — he served as the head football coach.

He died of Lingering Kidney Issues.

Dye died of a kidney ailment. He was getting treatment in the hospital for several weeks for his lingering kidney dysfunction. He was also diagnosed positive for COVID-19 last month & was asymptomatic. Initially, he was admitted to a hospital in Atlanta, but with his agreement, he was shifted recently to the Auburn area so that he could be close to his family and friends.

Pat Dye’s career.

From 1981-91, Dye served as the school's athletic director, and from 1981-92, he served as Auburn's head coach. After almost a decade of vanity, Dye transformed Auburn from a downing team to a football power. Throughout his career, he is popularly known for having won four SEC titles (1983, 1987-89) and for posting a 99-39-4 record. Dye played for 12 years victoriously to lead Auburn to three Sugar Bowls. Also, ten times, Auburn finished at the top with most popular on the trot four seasons from 1986 to 1989.

How other coaches describe Dye.

In a discussion, the current coach of Auburn, Gus Malzahn said, "Coach Dye was much more than a hall of fame coach and administrator at Auburn. He was an Auburn leader and visionary. He not only returned the football program back to national prominence during his tenure but was a key figure in bringing the Iron Bowl to Auburn and made an impact on the university and in the community. Dye embodied what Auburn is about: hard work, toughness, and a blue-collar mentality. Coach Dye's impact on Auburn is endless and will stand the test of time. He had a great and deep love for Auburn, and he displayed that affinity daily. I'm very appreciative of his support and friendship over the years. It's a sad day. Coach Dye was a treasure and will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his former players, and coaches, and the entire Auburn family.”

Alabama's Nick Saban said, “I've known and respected Pat Dye for many years, and he always represented college football with tremendous class and integrity. He was an outstanding teacher and coach, who affected our game in many significant ways. We are saddened to hear of his passing and our thoughts, and prayers are with his family, friends, co-workers, and all the players he had such a positive impact on throughout his distinguished career.” Other coaches including former Texas & Current North Carolina coach Mack Brown also talked about Dye on Twitter.

It was in 1982 that the Auburn program took a U-turn; it was Dye’s second season as a coach. In the Iron Bowl, the Tigers topped Alabama, which was led by Bo Jackson. Dye led the team to move the Iron Bowl out of Birmingham's neutral site. It was then in 1989, the Tigers topped Alabama. It was the first-ever Iron Bowl to have taken place in Auburn.