Photos: Arizona Wildcats coaching legend Dick Tomey
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Dick Tomey, who won more football games than any coach in Arizona Wildcats history and became a legend in both the Sonoran Desert and the Hawaiian Islands, died at age 80 on Friday, May 10, 2019.
Tomey's family said he died late Friday night. Tomey, a Tucson resident, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer around Christmas. In January, he underwent tests at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; he also received treatment at Tucson Medical Center.β Arizona Daily Star
Arizona vs. USC football
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Former UA coach Dick Tomey is carried off the field after Arizonaβs 21-17 win over USC in 1990. Tomey won 95 games over 14 seasons with the Wildcats, including a 60-49-4 in Pac-10 play.
Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen 1990Dick Tomey
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A fresh-faced Dick Tomey at Tucson International Airport in December, 1976, for an interview to become the new head football coach at the University of Arizona. Tomey was an assistant coach at UCLA under Terry Donahue. Bruce Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
Bruce Hopkins / Tucson Citizen1998 Arizona Wildcats football team
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Running back Trung Canidate gives Arizona Wildcats coach Dick Tomey the traditional dousing after the Wildcats beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1998 Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
David Sanders / Arizona Daily StarArizona Wildcats football practice
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Former Arizona Wildcats head coach Dick Tomey, left, chats with Chuck Cecil, his former player and current defensive staff analyst, and current head coach Kevin Sumlin during the University of Arizona Wildcats football team practice in Arizona Stadium on Aug. 8, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz.
Mike Christy / Arizona Daily StarArizona Wildcats football coach Dick Tomey
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Head football coach Dick Tomey walks off the field at Arizona Stadium after congratulating ASU coach Bruce Snyder on the Sun Devils' victory on Nov. 24, 2000. Tomey resigned after the game.
James S. Wood / Arizona Daily StarARIZONA FOOTBALL FIESTA BOWL
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University of Arizona coach Dick Tomey enjoys the aftermath of the Wildcatsβ 29-0 victory of the University of Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on New Yearβs Day 1994. UA finished the 1993 season ranked No.10. Media photographers crowd the Wildcats celebration of their victory over Miami.
Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen1999 Arizona Wildcats football team
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University of Arizona coaches Duane Akina, left, and Dick Tomey, show their displeasure with the team's performance against Stanford Cardinal on Sept. 18, 1999, following their 12-1 season in 1998.
Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Dick Tomey proved his Hall of Fame mettle for his stellar work with Hawaii and Arizona, but his career winning mark is under .600.
JIM DAVIS/ Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Former UA coach Dick Tomey, center, says cornerback Chris McAlister was waiting on the tarmac when the team plane arrived back home after a win at Washington in 1998.
Lenny Ignelzi / Arizona Daily Star1998 Arizona Wildcats football
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In 1998, coach Dick Tomey led Arizona to a 50-42 win over Arizona State and then a 23-20 bowl victory over Nebraska.
Sergey Shayevich / Arizona Daily Star 1998Pima County Sports Hall of Fame
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Former UA football coach Dick Tomey writes about his days at Hawaii in his new book βRise of the Rainbow Warriors.β
Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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When he came to the UA, coach Dick Tomey brought along his connections in Hawaii and Polynesian-based communities.
David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star 1994Tomey
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Arizona football coach Dick Tomey answers reporters' questions in 2000.Β
Aaron J. Latham / Arizona Daily StarTomey
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UA coach Dick Tomey, right, with help of his players, hoists the Holiday Bowl trophy after Arizona defeated Nebraska 23-20 Wednesday Dec. 30, 1998 in San Diego, Calif.
Kvork Djansezian / AP10 UA Football-p11
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Dick Tomey, who passed away in May at age 80, won 63 games as Hawaii coach. βHe was as great a psychologist as he was a football coach,β said former Hawaii player Kent Untermann.
Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star 2010DICK TOMEY
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University of Arizona head football coach Dick Tomey takes questions at a press conference in early 1987. He left Hawaii for the Wildcats after 10 seasons.
Bruce McClelland / arizona daily star 19871994 Fiesta Bowl
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Arizona athletic director Cedric Dempsey buckles after being handed the 1994 Fiesta Bowl trophy by Chuck Levy, right. Tedy Bruschi and coach Dick Tomey are at left.
Rick Wiley / Tucson CitizenDick Tomey
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Former Arizona football head coach Dick Tomey back in Arizona Stadium for the first time since 2000, jokes on the sidelines before the NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010.Β
John Miller / APDick Tomey
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University of Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, left, shares a moment with defensive end Tedy Bruschi after the UCLA game on Oct. 3, 1992.
Rick Wiley / Tucson CitizenDick Tomey
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Dick Tomey as he is looking over his players at Camp Cochise in 1996.
Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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UA Coach Dick Tomey is working with one of his ballplayers during drills in 1994.
David Sanders / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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UA head football coach Dick Tomey talks to his players after practice at Camp Cochise Monday August 9, 1999.
Aaron J. Latham / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Neg~84192; No Title UA coach Dick Tomey (right) would have really put on a death grip on Penn State coach Joe Paterno as the two met before the game at Beaver Stadium. UA lost to Penn State 41-7. Photo by David Sanders. Copyright 1996 The Arizona Daily Star UA:Football; Event:Game; Identity:Coaches; Action:Talking; PLS:Sport; People: Dick Tomey, Joe Paterno UA vs. Penn State
David SandersDick Tomey
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Neg~75457; Star Sports--Football Tab Cover--UA head coach Dick Tomey has been coaching the UA football team now for 10 yrs. Photo by Benjie Sanders. Photo taken on 8-23-96. Copyright 2000 The Arizona Daily Star Identity:Coach; PLS:Football; Book:C; People: Dick Tomey
Benjie SandersDick Tomey
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14 UA FOOTBALL JD-p3 Former Arizona head coach Dick Tomey (cq DICK TOMEY /left) talks with new head football coach Mike Stoops (cq MIKE STOOPS /right) during spring practice Tuesday, April 13th, 2004 at the UA practice field. Jim Davis/ Arizona Daily Star. Digital. Assign.#106257. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO MAGS NO SALES APRIL 14, 2004 C3 Photo by Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star: Coach talk: Former UA coach Dick Tomey, left, chats with current head coach Mike Stoops during a visit Tuesday. Tomey spoke to the team and said, "I've seen so many old friends today that it's been wonderful." AUGUST 20, 2004 F46 Photo by Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star 2004 - Mike Stoops, the new UA head football coach, is aiming to re- establish a winning tradition. SEPTEMBER 4, 2004 C1 Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star - Been there, done that: Former UA coach Dick Tomey, left, says new Arizona coach Mike Stoops will "probably have a lot of different feelings for his first game."
JIM DAVISHoliday Bowl
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Former UA coach Dick Tomey looks up at the scoreboard in the second quarter in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009. Tomey spoke to the team before the game and coached the team last time they played Nebraska and won in the Holiday Bowl.Β
David Sanders / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Former University of Arizona head coach Dick Tomey waves to the crowd during the game against Oregon State University at Arizona Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Tucson, Ariz.Β
Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Arizona's former football head coach Dick Tomey waves to the crowd after being recognized at the football game against Oregon State at the Arizona Stadium Saturday, October 9, 2010.Β
Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Former University of Arizona head coach Dick Tomey watches the video board during ceremony for him in the game against Oregon State University at Arizona Stadium on Oct. 9, 2010.
Dean Knuth, Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Stripes team coach Dick Tomey organizes the special teams during practices Wed. Jan 11, 2012 at the Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., leading up to the Casino del Sol College All-Star Game.
Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Dick Tomey gets himself out of a sand trap and onto the 2nd green at Oro Valley. The UA football coach has to squeeze a year's worth of golf in over the summer. Dick Tomey gets himself out of a sand trap and onto the 2nd green at Oro Valley Country Club.
Xavier Gallegos / Tucson CitizenDick Tomey
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ASU head coach Bruce Snyder greets UA head coach Dick Tomey after the game during the 1995 Arizona vs. Arizona State football game on Nov. 24, 1995.Β
Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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University of Arizona head football coach Dick Tomey during a game against UCLA in Pasadena in 1990.
David Sanders / Arizona Daily StarDick Tomey
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Arizona athletic director Cedric Dempsey buckles after being handed the 1994 Fiesta Bowl trophy by Chuck Levy, right. Tedy Bruschi and coach Dick Tomey are at left.
Rick Wiley / Tucson CitizenMore information
- Dick Tomey, winningest coach in Arizona football history, dies at 80
- Former Arizona Wildcats coach Dick Tomey receiving treatment for lung cancer
- Greg Hansen: Dick Tomey's life, importance went well beyond wins and losses
- 'No one compared to him:' Dick Tomey's Wildcats share favorite memories of their coach
- Legacy of late Arizona Wildcats coach Dick Tomey lives on in his former players
- California DT Kyon Barrs commits to Arizona Wildcats for 2019
- UA hosting memorial service Friday morning at McKale Center for coaching icon Dick Tomey
- Arizona Wildcats legend Dick Tomey will be inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
- Watch: Dick Tomeyβs son, Rich, reflects on his fatherβs life
- Watch: Family, friends celebrate the life of Arizona Wildcats legend Dick Tomey
- Pac-12 Hotline: Here's why Dick Tomey, others belong in College Football Hall of Fame
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