December 4, 2024 |
Photo – University of Wyoming logo – Bigfoot 99 file photo
Memorials came in Tuesday for Dana Dimel from the University of Wyoming, Kansas State, the University of Illinois, and the University of Texas El Paso.
62-year-old Dimel, who had coached for them all during his career, died on Tuesday. No cause of death was given.
Dimel grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated in 1986 from Kansas State, where his son, Winston Dimel, was later a three-time All-Big 12 fullback.
At the University of Illinois, where Dana had been hired earlier this year as a senior offensive assistant, Head Coach Brett Bielma said, “Dana was an exceptional person, husband, father, friend and football coach. He affected the lives of countless coaches, players and staff members for more than three decades in college football.”
Dimel was hired by Wyoming in 1997 and went 22–13 over three seasons before leaving for Houston, where he was 8–26 in three seasons. Dimel returned to Kansas State as an assistant, along with a period at Arizona, before getting a final chance to be a head coach at UTEP, where he went 20–49 and led the Miners to the New Mexico Bowl over six seasons.
Dimel, who had a career record of 50–88 as a head coach, helped Illinois go 9-3 as an assistant this season.
Dimel is survived by his wife, Julie, and children, Winston and Josey. Winston was a fullback for the Miners during the 2018 season.
