The football world is mourning the loss of longtime college football coach Steve Kragthorpe, who passed away on Sunday night after a brave battle with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 59, as reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Kragthorpe, a former quarterback at Eastern New Mexico and West Texas, kicked off his coaching career at Northern Arizona in 1990 before making stops at North Texas, Boston College, and Texas A&M. However, it was in 2001 when he made his mark in the NFL, joining the Buffalo Bills as the quarterbacks coach under head coach Gregg Williams.
During his two-year stint with the Bills, Kragthorpe worked closely with veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who had a standout season in 2002, earning his fourth and final Pro Bowl nod with impressive stats of 4,359 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
After his time in Buffalo, Kragthorpe decided to take on his first head coaching job, replacing Keith Burns at the University of Tulsa. Under his leadership, the Golden Hurricanes experienced a resurgence, making three bowl game appearances in four years after a long drought of not having a winning season since 1991. Kragthorpe’s impact was so significant that he was inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Following his successful tenure at Tulsa, Kragthorpe spent three seasons as the head coach at the University of Louisville, finishing his head coaching career with a respectable 44-43 record. However, in 2011, Kragthorpe faced a new challenge when he joined LSU as the offensive coordinator. Unfortunately, his time at LSU was cut short after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, prompting him to step down from his coaching duties. Despite this setback, Kragthorpe remained involved with the LSU football program in an off-field capacity for two more years.
The legacy of Steve Kragthorpe extends far beyond the football field, as he leaves behind a lasting impact on all the players, colleagues, and fans who had the privilege of knowing him. His dedication, resilience, and passion for the game will continue to inspire generations of football enthusiasts for years to come. May he rest in peace.