Longtime football coach Dana Dimel died on Tuesday, the Dimel family announced.
"Dana Dimel impacted countless student-athletes and people through his football journey and the Illinois famILLy was lucky to have him on our staff. Our love and thoughts are with his family," said the Illinois football program, where Dimel worked as a senior offensive assistant.
Dimel appeared outwardly healthy and worked as usual at the Illini football facility on Monday but did not wake on Tuesday morning, sources told FootballScoop.
Dimel started his college football career at Hutchinson Community College as a defensive lineman, but switched to offensive line at Kansas State. There, he became an All-American and played his way on to K-State's All-1980s Team.
After spending training camp with the Minnesota Vikings, Dimel started his coaching career under Bill Snyder at K-State in 1987. He became the Wildcats' offensive line coach in 1989 and the offensive coordinator in 1995. That success earned Dimel head coaching positions at Wyoming and Houston.
Dimel returned to Manhattan for two separate stints, most recently as offensive coordinator, and spent 2018-23 as the head coach at UTEP.
Dimel leaves behind his wife, Julie, son, Winston, and daughter, Josey. Winston Dimel played for his father at Kansas State and UTEP, making the All-Big 12 team as a fullback in 2015 and '16.
Dana Dimel was 62 years old.