Former University of Alabama football coach Ray Perkins died this morning at his home in Northport, Ala., His family told AL.com.
Ray Perkins, 79, has coached at the pro and college level for 40 years. He is best known among college football fans as the man who took over Paul “Bear” Bryant as head coach in Alabama.
Perkins had been dealing with heart problems for a few years.
Perkins coached the Crimson Tide for four seasons from 1983-1986, during which time he set a 32-15-1 record, including a 3-0 record in Bowl games. He finally left Alabama after the 1986 season and signed a lucrative contract with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take a head coaching job. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Perkins, a native of Petal, Miss., Took a job in Alabama after the 1982 season, he was the head coach of the New York Giants. The Giants, Perkins’ successors with Perkins, will be able to win two Super Bowls. Perkins’ coaching tree includes parcels, Bill Belichick and Romeo Cranell.
He later became the head coach of Tampa Bay Bookniers and Arkansas State University. After leaving the state of Arkansas, he spent time coaching at Mississippi Junior College Ledges, Jones County Junior College Ledge. In two years at JCJC, Perkins guided Bobcats to a 15-5 record.
From 1964-66 he was a huge receiver in Alabama. During this time in Tuscaloosa, Alabama compiled a 30-2-1 record, including two national championships and three SEC titles. As a senior, he was the team captain, SEC Player of the Year and All-American. He played in two Orange Bowls and one Sugar Bowl and set records in both. He was coached by the Baltimore Colts and played there for five years. When the Colts were Super Bowl champions, they played Super Bowl III in 1969 and Super Bowl V in 1971.
Last season, the SEC honored Perkins as one of its “SEC legends.”
This story will be updated.
