Legendary BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards passed away Dec. 29, 2016 at the age of 86 surrounded by his wife Patti and their family.
Edwards, a coaching icon in college football, led the Cougars for 29 seasons from 1972 to 2000. He amassed 257 victories, which ranks seventh in NCAA Division I history. In addition, Edwards led BYU to the 1984 National Championship and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
“I love LaVell Edwards,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “He was a great coach, a wonderful person, a disciple of Christ, a loyal family man and a true friend. LaVell had a pure heart. His example will forever be with me and I will strive to live a life of love as he always did.”
Known for his stoic sideline demeanor and quick-witted humor, Edwards was once labeled by USA Today as a “national coaching treasure.” Beloved not only in coaching circles and all of Cougar Nation, but especially by the many hundreds of players under his tutelage, including current head coach Kalani Sitake who was a fullback and team captain for the Cougars.
In 1972, Edwards assumed command of a BYU program that had won just 173 games over 49 seasons, including just 14 winning seasons. The Cougars had never been to a bowl game and had just one conference championship prior to Edwards’ promotion to head coach.
Undaunted by the formidable rebuilding task that lay ahead, Edwards transformed BYU into a national power, pioneering an aggressive and innovative passing attack that led BYU to conference titles in 19 of 29 seasons and an overall record of 257-101-3.
In his first season as the head coach, he led the Cougars to a 7-4 overall record, including a 16-7 win over in-state rival Utah. Just two seasons later, Edwards had the team rolling. The Cougars won the WAC Championship after a 48-20 victory over the Utes and accepted an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl—the team’s first-ever bowl appearance, starting a run of 22 bowls in 29 years. The 1974 season turned out to be the first of 27 straight non-losing seasons.
After recording an 11-1 record in 1979, a 12-1 record in 1980 another 11-win season in 1981, eight more wins in 1982, and 11 additional wins in 1983, Edwards led BYU to a perfect 13-0 season in 1984. Following a 24-17 win over Michigan in the Holiday Bowl, the Cougars were crowned national champions. Not surprisingly, Edwards was named the National Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.
Under his direction, BYU recorded 10 straight conference titles from 1976 through 1985 and played in 17 consecutive bowl games from 1978 until 1994.
On New Year’s Day in 1997, BYU set an NCAA record with 14 victories after winning the Cotton Bowl to cap the 1996 season in a thrilling 19-15 victory over No. 14 Kansas State. BYU finished ranked No. 5 nationally—its highest finish since1984.
Edwards announced his retirement prior to the 2000 season. BYU would honor him by renaming Cougar Stadium, LaVell Edwards Stadium prior to the final home game of the year on Nov. 18. A banner bearing the new name was unveiled in a pregame ceremony conducted by President Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A week later BYU gave Edwards one more magic moment. Trailing Utah 27-26 in Salt Lake City with 23 seconds left, quarterback Brandon Doman scored a 7-yard touchdown run to send Edwards out a winner in his final game.
Edwards coached one Heisman Trophy winner, two Outland Trophy recipients, four Davey O’Brien awardees, seven Sammy Baugh Trophy Winners, 31 All-Americans and six College Football Hall of Famers. He was named NCAA District 8 Coach of the Year eight times, Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year in 1979 and AFCA National Coach of the Year in 1984.
Following his coaching career, Edwards served a full-time LDS mission with his wife Patti to New York City from 2002-03. He also served on several committees and boards for various college football awards and governing bodies following his retirement.
The eighth of 14 children, Edwards graduated from Lincoln High School in Orem. He attended Utah State University, where he was an all-conference lineman before serving a two-year commitment in the Army. He and Patti were married for more than 65 years. The Edwards have three children, Ann [Cannon], John and Jim.
Career Highlights
- Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
- College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2004)
- State of Utah’s Coach of the Century
- State of Utah Sports Hall of Fame
- BYU Hall of Fame
- Football stadium named LaVell Edwards Stadium in his honor
- 6th all-time among FBS head coaches with 257 wins
- Football Bowl Association Champions Award (2011)
- NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award (2009)
- Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (2003)
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1984)
- Kodak Coach of the Year (1984)
- AFCA Coach of the Year (1984)
- Boddy Dodd Coach of the Year (1979)
- National Championship (1984)
- Five former players also in College Football Hall of Fame
- Players coached won a Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, seven Sammy Baugh Trophies, four Davey O'Brien trophies and two Outland Trophies
- 19 conference championships
- 22 bowl games
- 6 All-American quarterbacks
- 257-101-3 overall record
- LaVell's Coaching Tree
- National Coaching Honors