Longtime College Football Coach Has Died At 69

Longtime Citadel head football coach Charlie Taaffe has passed away, his family confirmed on Wednesday.

Taafe was 69, and he died after a "short battle with widespread cancer" according to a Facebook post from his sister.

Taaffe served as head coach at Citadel from 1987-96, compiling a 55-47-1 record. He took the Bulldogs to the I-AA playoffs three times, including a quarterfinal appearance in 1992.

Later, Taaffe would take over as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes for two seasons, leading the team to a Grey Cup appearance in 2000. He would go on to serve as the offensive coordinator at Maryland and Pitt before another two-year stint in the CFL, this time as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2007 and 2008.

Most recently, Taaffe served as the offensive coordinator at UCF from 2009-14. In 2013, he helped the Knights finish with a 12-1 record and earn a Fiesta Bowl victory.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Taaffe's friends and family.

May he rest in peace.