Dennis Franchione, cause of death: What happened to the former Alabama and Texas A&M coach who died at 75?
The legendary American college football coach died in Austin at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer that began in 2016 and had several relapses
American college football is in mourning. Dennis Franchione, former coach of Alabama, Texas A&M, and TCU, died this Tuesday at the age of 75 in Austin, Texas, as confirmed by his family. His career spanned more than three decades and left 213 victories and eight conference titles .
Franchione had been battling cancer for years . In 2016, doctors found a cancerous tumor in one of his kidneys and, after overcoming that first illness, he received a new diagnosis in 2021. He even went into complete remission, but the cancer returned again in 2026.
Dennis Franchione's long battle against cancer
The first diagnosis came in 2016 , when doctors found a cancerous tumor in one of his kidneys. Franchione overcame that illness and spent several years with good news about his health.
In 2021, however, he was diagnosed with cancer again, this time more aggressively. The coach began a new treatment and in December 2022 announced that he was in complete remission. “Remission was the best Christmas gift ever!” he wrote at the time to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The disease returned during 2026 . According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Franchione recently entered hospice care in Austin after the cancer reappeared . The family confirmed his death, but no immediate medical cause more specific has been reported that would allow it to be officially stated that cancer was the direct cause of death.
The coach who changed TCU's history
Beyond Alabama and Texas A&M, one of the most important stages of Franchione's career was the one he led at TCU between 1998 and 2000. He arrived after a season in which the Horned Frogs had finished 1-10 and quickly changed the course of the program.
In three seasons, he compiled a 25-10 record, won two consecutive Western Athletic Conference titles, and led TCU to its first bowl victory in 41 years . In 2000, the team finished 10-2 and rose as high as No. 9 in the national rankings.
That team’s star player was running back LaDainian Tomlinson, while Gary Patterson was part of the coaching staff as defensive coordinator. Franchione’s work laid the foundation for the growth TCU would experience in the following years.
After TCU, Franchione took over at Alabama in 2001 . In two seasons, he posted a 17-8 record and finished his second campaign with a 10-3 mark and a victory in the Independence Bowl.
In 2003 he took the reins at Texas A&M , where he remained until 2007. Later, he returned to Texas State to finish his coaching career there in 2015. He also coached at New Mexico, Southwest Texas State, and Pittsburg State, where he won five consecutive conference titles.
Overall, Franchione finished his head coaching career with 213 wins, 135 losses, and two ties, along with eight conference championships. He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and was currently listed among the candidates of the National Football Foundation for the College Football Hall of Fame.
Franchione was married to Kim and had three children, Ashley, Libby, and Brad . His death prompted messages of tribute from several of the programs he coached, including TCU, Alabama, and Texas A&M.
