Fred Akers, a former Arkansas football player who led Texas to a pair of undefeated regular seasons as a coach, died Monday, his daughter Lesli told The Associated Press.
Akers, 82, died at his home in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, from complications of dementia.
Akers followed a coaching giant at Texas and came agonizingly close to glory himself with two undefeated seasons before national title hopes ended with losses in the Cotton Bowl.
He coached the Longhorns’ first Heisman Trophy winner, Earl Campbell, and won like few others at Texas, amassing an 86-31-2 record in 10 seasons.