He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his kidney in 2016, and cleared that. In 2021, he was given a more dire cancer diagnosis, but after treatment was in full remission.<\/a> According to family friends, the cancer returned earlier this year, and he was moved to hospice care in October.<\/p>\n He most recently returned to TCU as a guest of coach Sonny Dykes to attend a spring football game<\/a> in 2022, which unofficially ended any remaining bad feelings from members of the community toward Fran. For a long time, some members of TCU\u2019s fanbase could not get over how he handled his exit from the school after the end of the 2000 regular season.<\/p>\n Franchione said later in life that his greatest coaching years were those spent at TCU.<\/p>\n Dennis Franchione changed TCU<\/p>\n Before he was hired by TCU after the 1997 season, Fran had successful runs at Pittsburg State, Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) and New Mexico.<\/p>\n He arrived at TCU to replace coach Pat Sullivan, who in his final season with the school finished 1-10. The football team was bad, morale in the athletic department was terrible, and the school was in the first phase of a massive effort to catch up to the rest of higher education, and NCAA athletics.<\/p>\n After arriving, he made it a point to invite anybody who wanted to be around the football team, including booster Dick Lowe; a successful energy man, Lowe was a proud alum who loved TCU but whose involvement with the program helped lead to crippling NCAA sanctions in the \u201880s. Lowe\u2019s return, and his considerable donations, helped make a variety of scenarios possible for the school.<\/p>\n In Fran\u2019s first season, TCU finished 7-5, which included a surprise trip to the Sun Bowl, and even more stunning<\/a> win over USC in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI can pick three or four games, but that was maybe the biggest win of my career,\u201d Fran told the Star-Telegram in an interview in 2018.<\/p>\n The next season, TCU finished 8-4, with a win in the Alabama Bowl. The season featured the full unveiling of a fullback-turned-running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Against UTEP that season, Tomlinson ran for a then-FBS-record 406 yards with six touchdowns.<\/p>\n Between Fran, the success of the team and LT, TCU was nationally relevant. By the middle of 2000, Fran was a target for bigger schools, LT was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and TCU was in the discussion as a \u201cBCS Buster.\u201d<\/p>\n Fran wanted to win a national title, so when Alabama called, he accepted the job. TCU finished 10-2 that season, and ranked 21st in the final AP poll; it was the first time the team finished ranked in the final AP poll since 1959.<\/p>\n TCU hired Fran\u2019s defensive coordinator as the new head coach, Gary Patterson.<\/p>\n Patterson\u2019s era receives most of the credit for forming TCU into what it is today, but it started with Dennis Franchione.<\/a><\/p>\n It is unfathomable to conceive that a coach would leave Alabama without being fired, but that\u2019s what Fran did.<\/p>\n Fran inherited a job at \u2018Bama that was under investigation by the NCAA for various potential sanctions. He and his wife, Kim, didn\u2019t love the scrutiny that came with being the head coach of the University of Alabama football team.<\/p>\n He coached at \u2018Bama for two years, which included a 10-3 record in 2002. Earlier that year, the team was hit hard by the NCAA for various penalties, at which point Franchione and Alabama had issues about his contract.<\/p>\n Texas A&M called, and he left for College Station.<\/p>\n Despite the highest of hopes, Fran\u2019s era at A&M turned out to be like so many others there. He took over a bad team, and in his first season the Aggies suffered a 77-0 loss at No. 1 Oklahoma,<\/a> and it was as if the team never recovered.<\/p>\n While Mack Brown had Texas rolling, Fran\u2019s A&M team couldn\u2019t catch up.<\/p>\n Five years later, he was essentially run out after the infamous \u201cInsider Newsletter\u201d<\/a> was leaked and used as a reason to fire him. His final regular-season game at Kyle Field, in November 2007, was a 38-30 upset win over No. 13 Texas. He had already accepted a buyout before the game to leave as coach.<\/p>\n He returned to coaching in 2011 to take over Texas State, a program that was moving up in NCAA classifications; the Bobcats had one winning season in his five years in San Marcos. With no fanfare, Fran retired after the 2015 season.<\/p>\n Dennis Franchione\u2019s legacy<\/p>\n At Franchione\u2019s house in Horseshoe Bay, his office was full of mementos from a coaching career that spanned 40 years. A picture with the ESPN \u201cCollege GameDay\u201d crew when he was the head coach at Alabama. Photographs from TCU\u2019s Sun Bowl win.<\/p>\n And then there were grandchildren. Family photos. Of a life.<\/p>\n At the time of his interview with the Star-Telegram in 2018, he had already gone through one bout with cancer. He watched a lot of college football, but he played a lot of golf and spent a lot of time with his family.<\/p>\n His perspective about life, and his career, was full.<\/p>\n He left Alabama to chase something that he wanted: A national title, a high point that ultimately he never came close to achieving.<\/p>\n It was only until later that he realized how good he had it at TCU, a school that continues to benefit from his presence to this day.<\/p>\n This story was originally published October 6, 2026 at 9:03 AM.<\/p>\n Mac Engel<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics. Movies. Concerts. Books. He combines dry wit with 1st-person reporting to complement an annoying personality.![\"TCU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Hi_j0058(2).JPG\" "\\"Hi_j0058(2).JPG\\"")
TCU head coach Dennis Franchione gives his wife, Kim, a hug after TCU defeated SMU 62-7 on Friday, Nov. 24, 2000, at Ford Stadium in Dallas. Sharon M. Steinman FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM Franchione\u2019s time at Alabama and Texas A&M<\/p>\n![\"Dennis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Hi_j0086(2).JPG\" "\\"Hi_j0086(2).JPG\\"")
Dennis Franchione is introduced as the new head football coach at Texas A&M alongside his wife, Kim, during a press conference Friday, Dec. 6, 2002, at College Station. Sharon M. Steinman FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n![\"TCU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Hi_j0156(2).JPG\" "\\"Hi_j0156(2).JPG\\"")
TCU head football coach Dennis Franchione leans on the railing outside his office that overlooks the playing field at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Sept. 5, 2000, in Fort Worth. Sharon M. Steinman FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
\n ![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791354382_233_MacEngel-Profile.jpg\")
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
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