Former Maryland football coach Roy Lester, a revered high school coach in Montgomery County, died Sunday in Rockville because of complications caused by COVID-19, his family said. He was 96.
A Spencer, West Virginia, native who played football, baseball and basketball at West Virginia University, Lester spent three seasons at Maryland from 1969 to 1971, going 7-25 before being relieved of his duties. During his tenure, 13 of his recruits went on to play in the NFL, most notably Dallas Cowboys star defensive end Randy White.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in political science, Lester briefly played for the Philadelphia Eagles’ farm team, the Patterson Panthers, in the American Football League.