Buddy Teevens, a steadfast supporter of player safety and a longtime head coach at Dartmouth, has passed away.
Teevens succumbed to his injuries he had sustained in an accident earlier and passed away at the age of 66.
Coach Teevens gained recognition for creating methods for lowering concussions.
Once the hazards of brain trauma were clear, he halted all tackling in practice more than 11 years ago.
According to NBC Sports, Teevens said, “Either we change the way we coach the game, or we’re not gonna have a game to coach,”
Teevens started creating the Mobile Virtual Player, a robotic tackle dummy, in 2013. The system for instructing athletes to engage moving targets while reducing injury risk went into action in 2016.
Coach Teevens also paved the way for the employment of female football coaches.
Teevens was acknowledged by Commissioner Roger Goodell at the 2023 Draft. The Commissioner said, “His impact both on college football and the NFL has been enormous,”
“He has been a leader in making our game safer through breakthrough innovations. He is a pioneer in hiring female coaches, two of whom are currently coaching in the NFL.”
Buddy Teevens, as a quarterback played at Dartmouth College and was the head coach from 1987 to 1991. Then he once again led the football team from 2005 to the present. He was also the head coach at the University of Maine, Tulane University, and Stanford University.
In school history, Teevens became the most successful coach throughout the 23 seasons. Teevens, received the Ivy League Player of the Year award in 1978 as Big Green claimed the league championship.
He also played hockey with the Dartmouth team, and in 1979, the team took the third spot in the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.
The Teevens family also issued a statement and said, “Our family is heartbroken to inform you that our beloved ‘coach’ has peacefully passed away surrounded by family. Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained proved too challenging for even him to overcome,”
We are saddened to share the passing of legendary Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach Buddy Teevens ’79. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
Community Letter 🔗:https://t.co/0yJD61QyGX
Story 🔗: https://t.co/qwS3FdBDZc pic.twitter.com/ak3XppOg2D— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) September 20, 2023
“Throughout this journey, we consistently relayed the thoughts, memories, and love sent his way. Your kindness and letters of encouragement did not go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated by both Buddy and our family.”
