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| LaVell Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Name | LaVell Edwards |
| Birth date | August 11, 1930 |
| Birth place | Provo, Utah |
| Death date | December 29, 2016 |
| Death place | Provo, Utah |
| Occupation | American college football coach |
| Known for | Head coach at Brigham Young University (BYU) 1972–2000 |
LaVell Edwards was an American college football coach best known for transforming the Brigham Young University football program into a national contender. Over a 29-year tenure he led BYU to a national championship and guided numerous players to professional careers in the National Football League, while pioneering passing strategies that influenced collegiate and professional offenses. Edwards's impact extended beyond wins and losses, shaping coaching practices at institutions such as University of Alabama, University of Notre Dame, and programs across the Pac-12 Conference and West Coast Conference.
Edwards was born in Provo, Utah and raised in a Mormon household affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Mapleton High School and later matriculated at BYU, where he studied physical education amid the postwar era of American higher education. While at BYU he was influenced by coaches from programs like University of Utah and contemporaries at Utah State University and absorbed tactical trends visible within the Big Ten Conference and Pacific Coast Conference coaching circles. His academic background in physical education and exposure to coaching figures from Bear Bryant-era University of Alabama and Woody Hayes-era Ohio State University informed his early coaching outlook.
As a player Edwards competed as a quarterback for Brigham Young University under head coaches of the late 1940s and early 1950s, drawing tactical inspiration from passing concepts used at University of Notre Dame and the pro ranks of the National Football League. After graduation he served as a player-coach and later moved into full-time coaching roles, linking his playing experience to coaching apprenticeships similar to those of former players who became coaches at University of Michigan and Penn State University. His playing career, while not professional, created a network with contemporaries who later coached at programs such as Texas A&M University and University of Southern California.
Edwards began his coaching career as an assistant at high schools in Utah before returning to BYU as an assistant coach under head coaches connected to the Western Athletic Conference coaching tree. In 1972 he succeeded Harold "Pat" Folsom as BYU's head coach and led the program through conference affiliations with the Western Athletic Conference and later interactions with the Mountain West Conference footprint. During his tenure BYU posted sustained winning seasons, captured conference championships, and achieved bowl victories in games against programs like University of Miami and Texas A&M University. Edwards developed quarterbacks who earned All-American status and were drafted into the National Football League, including players who reached Pro Bowl recognition and played for franchises such as the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and New York Giants.
Edwards emphasized a passing-oriented offense that contrasted with the run-heavy schemes prevalent at institutions like University of Nebraska and Oklahoma State University in the 1970s. Working with offensive coordinators who studied concepts from the West Coast offense and pro passing systems employed by coaches in the NFL, Edwards implemented timing routes, shotgun formations, and quick-release passing designed to exploit defensive tendencies used by teams from the Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference. His approach produced prolific statistical seasons and influenced coaches such as those from Air Force Academy and University of Oregon, while contributing to offensive evolution in bowl matchups against programs like University of Southern California and University of Florida. Edwards also emphasized character development informed by values connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and mentorship practices comparable to those promoted by Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne.
Edwards's legacy includes a national championship season in 1984, which elevated BYU to national prominence alongside perennial powers such as University of Miami and Penn State University. He received national coaching awards that placed him in company with recipients from programs like University of Michigan and Notre Dame, and his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame recognized his career wins and program-building achievements. BYU's stadium and facilities, recruiting pipelines across the Intermountain West, and the coaching trees that spread to institutions such as Stanford University, University of Washington, and Arizona State University reflect his influence. Numerous former assistants and players advanced to head coaching positions at schools including Brigham Young University–Idaho and Weber State University.
Edwards was married and raised a family in Provo, Utah, participating in community and church activities associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He maintained relationships with figures across college athletics, including administrators from NCAA Division I conferences and celebrity coaches from programs such as University of Alabama and Ohio State University. Edwards retired from coaching in 2000 and later served in advisory roles connected to BYU athletics and philanthropic efforts alongside universities like Brigham Young University–Idaho. He died in Provo, Utah on December 29, 2016, leaving a legacy recognized by former players, fellow coaches, and institutions across American college football.
Category:American football coaches Category:Brigham Young University people Category:1930 births Category:2016 deaths