Former Fresno State coach Sweeney dies
Former Fresno State coach Jim Sweeney died, the school announced Friday night. He was 83.
No further details were provided.
Sweeney coached the Bulldogs for 19 seasons and retired with a school-record 144 wins.
"Most of what our football program has accomplished in recent years was clearly made possible by the path that Coach Sweeney blazed for Fresno State football throughout his two decades of leadership," athletic director Thomas Boeh said in a statement. "He was a man of vision, toughness and character who led the Bulldogs to new heights and went on to become a national icon."
Sweeney also coached at Montana State and Washington State before coming to Fresno State in 1976. He retired after the 1996 season.
The field at Bulldog Stadium was renamed in his honor.
Overall, Sweeney had 200 victories over 32 seasons.
The Butte, Mont., native was also an assistant coach with the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Cardinals.
