Current Events > R.I.P. Pat Dye!

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AUBURN Pat Dye, the legendary football coach who led Auburn's football program to great heights during the 1980s, died Monday. He was 80 years old.

Dye was hospitalized late last month because of ongoing kidney issues. He tested positive for COVID-19 during his stay, but was asymptomatic according to his son, Pat Dye Jr.

The legendary coach led Auburn to a 99-39-4 overall record over 12 seasons from 1981-92, including nine straight with winning records. The team won four SEC championships, and Dye was named SEC Coach of the Year three times.

But Dye did have so much to do with building Auburn into the football program that it is today. He was the first head coach after Doug Barfield, which made him just the second since Ralph "Shug" Jordan's 25-year run ended in 1975. The Tigers went just 29-25-1 during the five seasons prior to his arrival, not making a bowl game once. Dye built them back into a power.