SAN MARCOS, Texas – Dennis Franchione, who led the Texas State football program during two separate stints as head coach and spearheaded the Bobcats' transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2012, passed away this morning at the age of 75. Franchione spent seven seasons at the helm of the Bobcats and played a pivotal role in ushering Texas State football into a new era at the highest level of college football.
 
"The Bobcat family extends our deepest condolences to the Franchione family, his close friends, and the countless student-athletes and coaches whose lives he touched," said Director of Athletics Don Coryell. "Coach Franchione holds an incredibly important place in the history of Texas State football. Beyond what he accomplished on the field, he was a coach, leader and mentor to hundreds of student-athletes throughout his time in San Marcos. His impact on our program and the legacy he leaves behind will forever be a part of Texas State Athletics."
 
Franchione first served as Texas State's head coach during the 1990 and 1991 seasons, compiling a 13-9 record over his two years at the helm. In his first season, he guided the Bobcats to a 6-5 record, delivering the program's first winning season since 1984 and its first as a member of both the Southland Conference and NCAA Division I FCS.
 
Franchione followed with a 7-4 campaign in 1991, giving Texas State consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1983-84. Following the season, he departed San Marcos to become the head coach at the University of New Mexico.
 
Franchione returned to Texas State in 2011 for his second stint leading the Bobcat football program, a tenure that would prove to be one of the most significant periods in program history. He spearheaded Texas State's transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), helping establish the Bobcats at college football's highest level. Under his leadership, Texas State posted consecutive bowl-eligible seasons in 2013 and 2014, an impressive achievement in just the program's second and third seasons as an FBS member and during its transition into the Sun Belt Conference.
 
Franchione left his mark on an assortment of Division I football programs, making stops at Texas A&M, Alabama and TCU, among others. During his time with the Crimson Tide, Franchione and his wife Kim formed Coach Fran Charities, a nonprofit organization with emphasis on after-school programs in reading and literacy, life skills and the arts.
 
Across an illustrious 40-year career including 27 seasons as a collegiate head coach, the Girard, Kansas native tallied a career record of 213-135-2 and earned six coach of the year honors.  Following his retirement from Texas State in 2015, Franchione concluded a decorated coaching career that spanned more than four decades. He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and is currently a candidate for induction into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame.