The Iowa high school football coaching community mourns the loss of a significant figure, as renowned head coach Dick Tighe passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94.

Tighe had impactful coaching tenures at St. Edmond Catholic School, Webster City High School, Iowa Falls-Alden High School, Carroll Kuemper High School, as well as in Canada. Over his impressive 63 seasons, he recorded a remarkable 432 wins against 167 losses and 8 ties before retiring in 2016.

Upon his retirement, Tighe held the record for the most wins in the state and was also ranked in the Top 10 nationally. His coaching tenure was matched only by South Carolina’s John McKissick in terms of longevity.

Tighe revitalized a St. Edmond program that suffered from a 21-game losing streak, ultimately leading the team to 108 victories in the following decade. Notably, he guided the school to its first-ever state championship game and made another trip to the state semifinals.

His coaching journey began at St. Edmond in 1961, with his return occurring four decades later. A graduate of Notre Dame, Tighe is survived by six children and his late wife, Margot, who passed away in 2012.