"The entire San Jose State University community is saddened to learn that beloved football coach Dick Tomey is undergoing treatment for lung cancer. We hold Coach Tomey in very high regard for everything he has done for our university and, specifically, for our football program since he became a member of family in 2005. Even after he concluded being our head football coach, he continues being a viable mentor, trusted voice of reason, visionary, and loyal friend to our student-athletes, coaches, athletics staff and friends of our athletics program. Our best wishes go out to Coach Tomey, his family and all who love and adore him during this challenging time."
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FAMILY STATEMENT
"Coach Dick Tomey was recently diagnosed with a type of lung cancer at Tucson Medical Center and is currently undergoing further tests this week at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Texas.
"We (Coach and his family) greatly appreciate all the people who have reached out to help in so many ways and all the expressions of love and well-wishes being sent our way from so many people. Following Coach Tomey's example, our family is feeling very grateful and hopeful for a positive outcome."
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Tomey was named San Jose State's football head coach after the 2004 season. A head coach who turned around the football landscape and culture first at the University of Hawaii (1977-86) and then at the University of Arizona (1987-2000), Tomey accomplished the same in his five seasons (2005-09) with the Spartans.
The 2006 Spartans finished with a 9-4 win-loss record, were invited to play in a post-season bowl game for the first time in 16 seasons and won the inaugural New Mexico Bowl over host University of New Mexico. San Jose State also had a 6-6 win-loss record in 2008 with one of the program's best defensive teams in the last 20 years. Coach Tomey's teams were known for their defensive prowess.
More importantly, Tomey provided the necessary leadership and vision to significantly overhaul the academic deficiencies that plagued the San Jose State football program at the time he became head coach. San Jose State became the model institution among NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for academic reform.
In appreciation for his continued athletics program involvement and impact, the Dick Tomey Class Act Award is presented each spring at the SAMMY awards sponsored by the San Jose State Student-Athletes Success Services (SASS) unit.