Thursday, June 21, 2012

Don Fambrough, American football player and head coach (University of Kansas), died from injuries from a fall he was 88.

Donald Preston "Don" Fambrough was an American football player and coach died from injuries from a fall he was 88.. He was the head coach at the University of Kansas.












(October 19, 1922 – September 3, 2011)

Early life

Fambrough was born on October 19, 1922 in Longview, Texas to Ivey and Willie Whittington Fambrough. He attended Longview High School.

College football/military career

Fambrough played college football at Texas in 1941 and 1942 before serving in the US Army Air Corps during World War II.[1] After returning home from the war, he and his wife moved to Lawrence, Kansas. While in Lawrence, he chose to play football at the University of Kansas.

Coaching career

His first coaching job was at Kansas as assistant from 1948 to 1953. After that, he served as an assistant at East Texas State and Wichita State. Fambrough eventually found his way back to Kansas as assistant coach under Jack Mitchell from 1958. Following the 1970 season, he got his dream job as the head coach at Kansas before the 1971. He served as the coach of Kansas from 1971 to 1974 and again from 1979 to 1982 and compiled a 37–48–5 record as a head coach.

Later life

Fambrough remained involved in Kansas football leading up to his death, and would occasionally take part in team practices. The school dedicated a bench overlooking Memorial Stadium to him in 2007.[2] Fambrough is known for his hatred of rival Missoui[3] and gave an annual anti-Missouri speech to the football team before each Border War game.[4]

Personal life

He married his wife, Del Few on October 4, 1941. His wife preceded him in death on November 17, 2001. The couple had two children, sons Robert and Preston.

Death

Farmbrough died September 3, 2011 at his home in Lawrence, Kansas from injuries sustained in a fall.[5] He was survived by two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Kansas Jayhawks (Big Eight Conference) (1971–1974)
1971 Kansas 4–7 2–5 T–5th


1972 Kansas 5–6 3–4 T–5th


1973 Kansas 7–4–1 4–2–1 T–2nd L Liberty 15 18
1974 Kansas 4–7 1–6 T–7th


Kansas Jayhawks (Big Eight Conference) (1979–1982)
1979 Kansas 3–8 2–5 T–5th


1980 Kansas 4–5–2 3–3–1 4th


1981 Kansas 8–4 4–3 T–3rd L Hall of Fame Classic

1982 Kansas 2–7–2 1–5–1 T–6th


Kansas: 37–48–5 20–33–3
Total: 37–48–5
#Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.




To see more of who died in 2011 click here

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