Former Utah Head Coach Jim Fassel Dies At Age 71
Jun 8, 2021, 12:40 AM | Updated: Dec 7, 2022, 12:05 pm
New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel talks into his headset while walking the sidelines against the San Francisco 49ers' during the first quarter of the NFC Wildcard playoffs at Candlestick Park 05 January 2003 in San Francisco, California. (Photo courtesy of John G. Mabanglo, AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo courtesy of John G. Mabanglo, AFP via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former University of Utah and NFL head coach Jim Fassel has passed away at the age of 71 on Monday.
Jim Fassel was the head football coach at Utah in 1976 before returning from 1985-89. According to the LA Times, Fassel suffered chest pains on Monday and was taken to a hospital in Las Vegas by a friend. The former Utah and NFL coach died of a heart attack while under sedation. His son John told the LA Times.
Fassel played professionally from 1972-74 before getting into coaching. His first job in the college ranks was as an assistant coach at Fullerton Junior College in 1974. After two seasons, he became the head coach of the Utes for one season.
Then he went to Weber State as the offensive coordinator from 1977-78. After his time in Ogden, Fassel went to Stanford to coach the running backs and wide receivers for three years.
Very sad news: Jim Fassel has died. He was NFL Coach of the Year in 1997, and a good man.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) June 8, 2021
Then he went to the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL as the OC for one year before taking the head coaching job at Utah once again. During his time at Utah, Fassel went 25-33. After that, Fassel went to the NFL where he was an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach from 1991-96 where he had stints with the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.
His first head coaching job was with the New York Giants from 1997-03 where he won Coach of the Year in his first season.
