National Football League

Ex-Detroit Lions coach Tommy Hudspeth dies at 83

Published Jun. 25, 2015 4:45 p.m. ET

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TORONTO (AP) Tommy Hudspeth, a Detroit Lions coach in the 1970s who also coached in college at BYU and UTEP, has died at 83.

His death was announced Thursday by the Toronto Argonauts, for whom he once worked as coach and general manager. The CFL team said he died Tuesday of cancer.

Hudspeth coached the Lions in 1976 and 1977. He was elevated from his scouting job early in the 1976 season after Rick Forzano was fired. He did not make it to the end of his three-year contract, leaving with an 11-13 record.

He was hired as the Argos' general manager in 1979. Two years later, he replaced Willie Wood as coach, finishing the 1981 season with a 2-4 record.

Hudspeth went 39-42-1 at BYU during his eight years. In 1965, he led the Cougars to their first league championship and was the Western Athletic Conference's coach of the year. He then coached UTEP in 1972 and 1973. His overall college record was 40-56-1.

Hudspeth also worked as an assistant with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders and coached in the World Football League. He played in college at Tulsa before working as an assistant there.

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