Former EKU football head coach Roy Kidd dies after moving into hospice
RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ)
9/12/23
After a brief stay in hospice care, legendary head coach Roy Kidd has died, EKU wrote in a post on its football X account.
“It would be impossible to express everything Coach Kidd has meant to Eastern Kentucky University. He embodied the passion, purpose, and pride that our program strives for every day. Thank you, Coach Kidd! 🤍🏈” the post read.
Kidd was born and raised in Kentucky, growing up in Corbin. He was the head football coach for the Colonels from 1964 to 2002, winning two division 1-AA college football championships. He also earned an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Current head football coach Walt Wells says he first met Kidd in 1997 when he was brought in for an interview.
He says Kidd made an impact — and it’s that influence Wells uses every single day.
“It’s players, not plays. It is people that make the difference, and you gotta make sure you win with people,” he said.
EKU President David McFadden says Kidd strived for excellence in everything he did.
But he says his influence went beyond the football field.
“That essence influences me as a president. We wanna strive for excellence every single day. We’re going to expect to win, we’re going to prepare to win. We try to change lives through what we do every day. And I think that the things for Coach that touched me. While I was never a player, I had a chance to be around him, to see him a living legend. An icon. We stand on the shoulders of giants and he is one of those giants at Eastern Kentucky University,” said McFadden.
Coach Kidd will be honored during Eku’s home game this weekend against western Carolina.
9/6/23
Former Eastern Kentucky University football head coach Roy Kidd is being moved into hospice care “in the next few days,” his family said in a statement.
“Coach Kidd is currently at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. The family plans to move him into hospice care in the next few days. They are taking all comfort measures at this time. Thank you for all your concern and prayers,” Kidd’s family told university officials.
Kidd was head coach of the football team for 39 years, beginning in 1964 until 2002.
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003, Kidd led the Colonels to 16 Ohio Valley Conference titles and a national record 17 NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances. When he retired following the 2002 season, Kidd was the sixth all-time winningest coach in NCAA history with 314 victories.
The two-time Division I-AA National Coach of the Year recorded 37 non-losing seasons, including a streak of 25 straight with a winning record. Kidd coached 55 All-Americans, 202 First Team All-OVC selections and 41 student-athletes who signed National Football League contracts. A member of the OVC and Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fames, the EKU football stadium is named in his honor.
