Tragic Loss: Dartmouth Beloved Football Coach Buddy Teevens Passes Away 6 Months After Terrifying Accident

Dartmouth College’s esteemed football coach, Buddy Teevens, aged 66, tragically passed away on Tuesday due to injuries sustained in a cycling accident on March 16 in St. Augustine, Florida. The Teevens family confirmed this sorrowful news through a statement released via the university.

In their statement, the family expressed their heartbreak over the loss of their beloved “coach” and explained that the injuries Buddy sustained were insurmountable. Throughout this difficult journey, they conveyed their gratitude for the outpouring of kindness, support, and encouragement from well-wishers.

Dartmouth’s president, Sian Leah Beilock, and director of athletics, Mike Harrity, conveyed their condolences to the Dartmouth community, describing Buddy Teevens as an integral part of Dartmouth football and an inspirational figure who influenced the lives of numerous students. Buddy had an enduring legacy as both a player, having been a quarterback for the Big Green and earning Ivy League Player of the Year honors in 1978, and as a coach, leading the Dartmouth football team for an impressive 22 seasons.

The tragic incident in March involved Buddy’s bike being struck by a pickup truck, described as an “accident” by the school. In subsequent updates on his condition, it was revealed that Buddy had to undergo the amputation of his right leg due to the accident, along with suffering spinal cord injuries.

Buddy Teevens was widely recognized for his commitment to making football safer. He significantly reduced full-contact practices by emphasizing technique, and his innovative approach led to the development of the Mobile Virtual Player, a robotic tackling dummy created at Thayer School of Engineering. This invention has been adopted not only by other college programs but also by NFL teams.

Following Buddy Teevens’ passing, Interim Head Coach Sammy McCorkle informed the team of this heartbreaking loss after their practice on Tuesday.

Dartmouth College has announced that it will proceed with its scheduled game against Lehigh on Saturday and will pay tribute to Buddy Teevens during the 2023 football season. The school plans to hold a moment of silence before the game and organize a gathering of remembrance afterward. Furthermore, Dartmouth intends to honor Buddy Teevens’ enduring legacy in the weeks and months to come, with input from the Teevens family.