Holy Cross Mourns the Death of Former Head Football Coach Dan Allen

The College of the Holy Cross mourns the passing of former head football coach Dan Allen, who died Sunday, May 16, at the age of 48. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and his three children, Mark, Taylor and Danielle.

Allen served as an assistant coach at Holy Cross from 1982 to 1989 before leaving to take over as the head coach at Boston University. He posted a record of 35-34 in six years at BU - posting a perfect 11-0 season in 1993, which earned him NCAA Division I-AA national Coach of the Year honors.

Returning to Holy Cross in 1996, Allen had served as the head coach for the past eight seasons. His 26-63 record at HC included a 7-4 mark in 2000 - only the second time since 1991 that the Crusaders have posted a winning record. The performance earned Allen New England Sportswriters/Coca-Cola New England Coach of the Year honors; he became just the third coach in program history to earn that distinction.

An Ohio native, Allen was an all-conference linebacker at Hanover (Ind.) College; he was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame two years ago. Allen began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Dayton, where he received his master's degree in 1979.

"Dan Allen was a man of tremendous courage," says Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president of the College. "He was greatly admired, respected and loved by his players and colleagues. He was a strong and passionate leader, deeply devoted to his players, not just as athletes, but as persons as well. The Holy Cross Community joins me in extending our prayers and condolences to the Allen family."

This past year, Allen was honored by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the winner of the John Baronian Award, a lifetime achievement award given to an individual who had dedicated his life to the game of football. Founded in 1932, the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston promotes the game of football at all levels and nurtures the ideals of citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership and athletic and academic achievement.

A funeral service was held Friday, May 21 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Worcester.

Donations may be made in Allen's name to The Danny Fund. Please send checks to The Danny Fund, care of Sovereign Bank, 70 East Main Street, Westboro, Mass., 01581.