BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - Former Virginia Tech head football coach Charlie Coffey passed away at his home in Shelbyville, Tennessee Monday night at the age of 81, according to hokiesports.com.
Coffey spent three seasons as the head coach at Virginia Tech, from 1971-73, and compiled a 12-20-1 overall record. His best season came in 1972 when the Hokies went 6-4-1.
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Coffey was from Shelbyville and came to Tech after serving five years as the defensive coordinator under Frank Broyles at the University of Arkansas. He was also assistant coach from 1963-65 at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. Other coaching stops included George Washington and Southeastern Louisiana State.
Coffey graduated from Tennessee in 1956. He played offensive guard and defensive tackle for General Bob Neyland and was the captain of the team his senior season. In 2010, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2013, he was honored with Honorary Member status by the University of Tennessee Lettermen's "T" Club – the highest honor bestowed by the club.
After his final season at Tech in 1973, Coffey entered the private sector, working in the trucking industry. In 1981, he founded Nationwide Express, a trucking company, and his two sons run the business today.
Coffey's funeral will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at First Christian Church on Main Street in Shelbyville. The viewing will be at the church on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and also on Saturday from 12-1 before the service.