East Carolina assistant Roggeman dies from lymphoma

Published Jun. 14, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

East Carolina assistant coach Thomas "Rock'' Roggeman has died after a yearlong fight with cancer.

The school said Roggeman died Monday in Chapel Hill. He was 47.

Roggeman joined Skip Holtz's staff when he arrived in Greenville in December 2004. He was in his third season coaching the defensive tackles before going on medical leave in September to focus on his treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

He remained at East Carolina when Holtz left for South Florida in January.

Roggeman also coached at Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Louisville, Eastern Michigan, UNLV and Murray State. He played linebacker and nose guard at Notre Dame.