MOBILE, Ala. — Kurt Crain, associate head coach of the South Alabama football team and a former All-America linebacker at Auburn, died Tuesday. He was 47.
Spanish Fort police said Crain was found dead at his home Tuesday afternoon. Baldwin County Coroner Stan Vinson said Tuesday night that the death appeared to be self-inflicted. Police said foul play was not suspected.
Crain was among the first assistant coaches hired by head coach Joey Jones when Jones arrived to start the South Alabama football program.
Jones: ‘We’ve Lost a Great Man’
“We’ve lost a great man, coach and mentor at the University of South Alabama,” Jones said in a statement released by the university. “In my opinion, Kurt was one of the best overall coaches I’ve ever seen. He cared about the players, they respected him greatly, and he was a tremendous football coach and motivator. I think about what a great man and what a great teacher he was for these young men. All Kurt would ever talk about was his family and how much he loved his wife and kids. That’s the kind of man he was.”
Speaking to the Press-Register by phone, Jones said he had met with the team and encouraged players to remember Crain’s character.
“I always ask them, ‘How do you want to be remembered?’ When I think about Kurt, when I heard the news, all I thought about was the great person that he was. Those kids, you could tell he meant a lot to them. He meant a lot to everybody in that room,” Jones said. “I told them to focus on the good that he did in his lifetime.”
Jones, who knew Crain during his playing days, added: “He was always a happy-go-lucky, loved-to-play-football guy when I knew him as a player. He was the same way here as a coach.”
Standout Career at Auburn
Crain was an Associated Press All-America linebacker at Auburn, a two-time All-SEC selection and a team captain as a senior. During his final two seasons, the Tigers went 19-3-2, won the 1987 Southeastern Conference championship, played in two bowl games and finished in the top 10 of the national polls both years.
He went on to play two seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers and Green Bay Packers.
Coaching Career
Crain began coaching in the early 1990s as a graduate assistant at Auburn. He later coached at Troy under Larry Blakeney and at TCU under Pat Sullivan before joining the South Alabama staff.
At South Alabama, Crain coached the inside linebackers for three seasons before moving to the defensive line this spring. His inside linebackers led the team in stops each season, and in 2011 the Jaguar defense ranked among the top 20 nationally at the FCS level in both pass defense and total defense.
Crain was treated last season for prostatitis, an infection that required at least three surgeries and intravenous antibiotics. The illness caused him to miss South Alabama’s game at North Carolina State, the program’s first against an FBS opponent, as well as a number of practices.
He is survived by his wife and children.
Update
Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs paid tribute to Crain on Wednesday, calling him a fierce competitor who would be deeply missed.
“The entire Auburn family is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kurt Crain,” Jacobs said. “He loved the game of football as much as he loved Auburn. Kurt was an incredible individual who I was blessed to be friends with for over 25 years.”
Vinson said the investigation into Crain’s death is continuing and that an autopsy would likely be performed Wednesday. No further details were immediately available, according to a South Alabama release.
Crain, a Birmingham native, had said he lost 32 pounds during the early stages of his illness and its treatment last season.
Anyone in crisis can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Update: Memorial Services Announced
Two services have been scheduled to honor Crain. An open memorial will be held Thursday at 4 p.m. in the worship center at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile. In Birmingham, a visitation is set for 3:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a 5:30 p.m. service of celebration at Southern Heritage Funeral Home.
Crain’s family released a statement Wednesday thanking the public for its support. “Kurt was a positive presence and influence on many lives, especially through his love of football, and we hope he will be remembered for all the gifts and passion he brought to the game,” the statement said. The family asked for time to grieve privately.
A “Crain Nation Fund” has been established at BancorpSouth Bank on behalf of Crain’s three children. Donations can be made at any BancorpSouth branch.
