Former Yale football coach Tony Reno dies after stepping down for health
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Former Yale football coach Tony Reno died on Friday, Oct. 2, the university announced.
Reno had stepped down from leading the Bulldogs' program in February for health reasons.
"Today, we are deeply saddened by the loss of an extraordinary member of the Yale Athletics family," Yale athletic director Victoria M. Chun said in a statement. "Tony Reno devoted his life to serving others and approached every day with humility, compassion, and purpose.
"He believed deeply in the power of mentorship and invested wholeheartedly in the success and well-being of his players, colleagues, and friends. While his accomplishments on the football field were remarkable, it is the relationships he built and the lives he changed that will define his enduring legacy. Our thoughts are with Toni, Dante, Angelina, Vince, and the entire Reno family during this time."
Reno spent over a decade leading the Bulldogs and transforming them into one of the Ivy League's top programs. Over the course of his decade-plus tenure, Yale went 83-49 overall under Reno, the second-most wins by a head coach in program history.
The Bulldogs won five Ivy League championship titles under Reno in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Yale also won seven of its last nine meetings against Harvard in the historic rivalry game series.
Last season, Reno helped Yale secure the conference's first automatic berth to the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs, where the Bulldogs advanced to the second round after a 43-42 comeback victory over Youngstown State in the first round. Yale finished the season ranked 13th in the country with a 9-3 overall record.
"Tony was a man who valued the important things in life. Family always came first, and that was evident in the special family he built and the love the Reno family shares," Yale football coach Kevin Cahill, who served on Reno's coaching staff in New Haven for 10 seasons before becoming his offensive coordinator, said in a statement.
"As a coach, Tony loved his players and held them to a standard they often didn't know they were capable of reaching. He was hard on them and demanding, but every day, they knew he cared about them. It was never about him or simply about winning championships; it was about developing young men and leaders and helping them become the best versions of themselves. Along the way, we won a lot of football games. Tony will be missed dearly. His impact on so many lives will never be forgotten, and his legacy will forever be a part of the Yale Football family."
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Yale football coach Tony Reno dies after stepping down for health
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos