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UD coaching legend Tubby Raymond dies

University of Delaware

The First State is mourning the loss of one of its sports legends.

The state is saying goodbye to Tubby Raymond, who died Friday at the age of 92.

The News Journal reports he had suffered complications after injuring his leg in a fall several months ago.

Raymond was a coaching giant – not just in Delaware – but the college football world.

He led the Blue Hens for 36 years – from 1966 to 2001.  Along the way he won three national championships and posted 300 career victories.  At the time he won his 300th game with a 10-6 victory over Richmond Nov. 10, 2001 at Delaware Stadium, he was only the 9th coach in college football history to reach the 300 win mark.

He announced his retirement in Feb. 2002 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame  a year later in 2003.

Raymond’s Hens were best known for their use of the Wing-T offense, created by Raymond’s predecessor at UD, Dave Nelson, and developed by Nelson and Raymond into a scheme adopted by high schools and colleges around the country.

He was also known for his work as an artist, including his tradition of painting portraits of UD’s senior football players that continued even after he retired.

The field at Delaware Stadium is named Tubby Raymond Field in his honor.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.