Legendary Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden has been diagnosed with a terminal medical condition, the Bowden family announced Wednesday.
“I’ve always tried to serve God’s purpose for my life, on and off the field, and I am prepared for what is to come. My wife, Ann, and our family have been life’s greatest blessing. I am at peace,” Bowden said in a statement.
Bowden, 91, coached the Seminoles from 1976 through 2009 after coaching at West Virginia University. He led Florida State to two national championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference championships.
University President John Thrasher and his wife, Jean, expressed condolences to the Bowdens in a statement Wednesday. “Jean and I are deeply saddened about the news of our friend Bobby Bowden’s terminal diagnosis, and we extend our thoughts and prayers to Bobby, Ann and the entire Bowden family. Coach Bowden built a football dynasty and raised the national profile of Florida State University, and he did it with class and a sense of humor. Although his accomplishments on the field are unmatched, his legacy will go far beyond football. His faith and family will always come first, and he is an incredible role model for his players and fans alike. He is beloved by the FSU family,” Thrasher wrote.
Florida State Athletic Director David Coburn wrote that Bowden is “a part of the heart and soul of FSU, but it goes beyond even that --- he is a big part of the history of the game.”
The university rallied around Bowden in October, when Bowden tested positive for COVID-19. Speaking to reporters at the time, current head coach Mike Norvell said Bowden remained connected to the program, including speaking with players and staff.
