Bobby Dodd Dead at 79; Coached at Georgia Tech

Bobby Dodd, who coached Georgia Tech’s football team from 1945-66 and spent 46 years working in the school’s athletic department, died Tuesday of lung cancer. He was 79.

Dodd, athletic director at Georgia Tech from 1950-76 and an assistant coach before he took over in 1945, died at West Paces Hospital in Atlanta, where his condition had been reported to be deteriorating for several days.

Dodd had a record of 165-64-8 in 22 seasons as Georgia Tech’s football coach. His teams went to 13 bowl games, winning 9.

Dodd was known for his relaxed approach to the game, and encouraged his regulars to skip spring practice to participate in other sports.

Nearly 10 years after he retired from coaching, Dodd said that he would make two changes if he were to return to coaching. He said he would do away with spring training and, “I would take the brutality out of football.”