A Life in Football
Dave Kragthorpe, the Hall of Fame former player and longtime coach, died on August 23, 2024, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that shaped college football across the western United States.
Born in the early 1930s, Kragthorpe excelled at Utah State where he starred as a two‑way tackle from 1951 to 1954, earning All‑Skyline Conference honors twice and becoming a cornerstone of the Aggies’ defense and offense.
A versatile athlete, he also lettered in baseball, catching for the university’s baseball team, and graduated in 1955 with double bachelor’s degrees in physical education and recreation education.
After completing his military service, he pursued a master’s in secondary education in 1963 and was selected in the 16th round of the 1955 NFL Draft, signing with the New York Giants before launching his coaching career.
His coaching journey began with stints as an assistant at Montana and South Dakota State before he took the head‑coach position at Idaho State, where he guided the Bengals to a 12‑1 record, a Big Sky title and an NCAA Division I‑AA championship in 1981.
Six years later, Kragthorpe moved to Oregon State, where his strategic acumen earned him the Pac‑10 Coach of the Year award in 1989, cementing his reputation as a transformative leader.
From 1983 to 1985 he returned to his alma mater as Athletics Director, overseeing growth in fundraising, alumni engagement and facilities, while remaining active in the Old Main Society, Alumni Sustaining Membership, Big Blue Scholarship Fund and Emeriti Association.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005 and was inducted into the Utah State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, joining an elite group of former Aggies.
A Legacy That Endures
The football community mourns the loss of Dave Kragthorpe, whose influence stretches from Logan to the Pac‑10, and whose dedication to the student‑athlete ideal continues to inspire future generations.