Former Alabama Head Coach Dennis Franchione Dies at 75

According to a report by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, former Alabama, TCU, and Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione has passed away at the age of 75.

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Franchione's coaching career lasted from 1985 to 2015, with major victories in both the Iron Bowl and the Lone Star Showdown. Franchione was the head coach of the Crimson Tide from 2001 to 2002, accumulating a 17-8 overall record with the Crimson Tide. Alabama went 10-3 in Franchione's final season, the Tide's first 10-win season since 1999 with Mike DuBose. Franchione had one of two 10-win seasons for the Crimson Tide from 2000 to 2008.

Family members confirmed Franchione's passing to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Austin on Tuesday morning. He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his kidney in 2016 before beating it. In 2021, he was diagnosed with a more dire cancer diagnosis after X-rays revealed the cancer following a fall he suffered. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram confirmed that the cancer returned earlier this year, and Coach Franchione was moved to hospice in October.

Franchione, a Pittsburgh State graduate in 1973, had seven stops as a head coach in college football:

• Pittsburgh State (1985-1989)
• Southwest Texas State (1990-1991)
• New Mexico (1992-1997)
• TCU (1998-2000)
• Alabama (2001-2002)
• Texas A&M (2003-2007)
• Texas State (2011-2015)

Franchione accumulated a 213-135-2 overall record as a head coach, with a 4-3 record in bowls. He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2026.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.