Chuck Amato, former NC State football coach, dies at 80

Chuck Amato, the former NC State football coach who led the Wolfpack to a school-record 11 wins in 2002, died Monday, October 19, at age 80. NC State announced his death, according to CBS Sports. Amato coached the team for seven seasons and served on two national championship coaching staffs at Florida State.

MassLive reported that Amato died after a recurrence of throat cancer. CBS Sports said he was diagnosed with the disease in 2009 and had reportedly faced its progression in recent years.

Amato’s record at NC State

Quarterback Philip Rivers led that 2002 offense. CBS Sports reported that Amato helped recruit Rivers, who went on to become a four-year starter at NC State, and signed running back TA McClendon. McClendon scored 18 touchdowns in 2002 and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s freshman of the year.

From Wolfpack linebacker to Florida State assistant

Amato’s ties to NC State began as a linebacker from 1965 to 1967. He returned as a graduate assistant in 1971 and became defensive coordinator five years later, CBS Sports reported. His later appointment as head coach brought him back to the school where he had played and begun coaching.

Before taking charge at NC State, Amato coached at Arizona and joined Bobby Bowden’s staff at Florida State. He was part of Seminoles teams that won national championships after the 1993 and 1999 seasons. He returned to Florida State after his NC State tenure ended and later worked as an assistant at Akron.