How did Jake Crouthamel die? Athletic director and football coach cause of death explained

Jake Crouthamel cause of death

Jake Crouthamel, a former director of athletics at Syracuse University, passed away this morning at the age of 84. Let’s see how did athletic director and football coach die and Jake Crouthamel cause of death in detail.

How did Jake Crouthamel die?

Jake Crouthamel had an impact on every sector of athletics. Crouthamel embodied great success for Syracuse Athletics by facilitating conference play in the BIG EAST for all sports, opening the renowned Carrier Dome in 1980. He upgraded facilities for athletes and department staff and hired and retained national championship coaches in John Desko, Dick MacPherson, Jim Boeheim, and Roy Simmons Jr.

The legacy he leaves behind is expansive, and he will forever be orange. The Syracuse director mourns for Jake’s loss and he released a statement on his demise. The message reads,

“Jake dedicated his life to intercollegiate athletics and was one of the best and most successful athletics directors of his era,” according to Syracuse’s director of athletics John Wildhack,

“The success of the Orange programs during his tenure speaks to his behind-the-scenes leadership, guidance, and expertise. Jake was a driving force in the creation and success of The BIG EAST Conference, which was among the preeminent basketball conferences for decades. The Syracuse Athletics family extends its deepest condolences to Jake’s wife, Carol, their daughters, and their entire family.”

Jake Crouthamel cause of death was not revealed yet. But, the statement says that he died peacefully.

Jake Crouthamel cause of death

Jake Crouthamel, the Dartmouth Class member of 1960 and a former star two-way halfback and head coach for the Big Green, died peacefully on November 7, 2022. He was 84 years old. Jake Crouthamel cause of death was not revealed yet.

Men’s lacrosse won eight NCAA championships, men’s basketball earned 20 NCAA bids and won the 2003 National Championship, football teams participated in 12 bowl games, and Title IX extended women’s athletics during his time as Syracuse University’s longest-serving athletics director (1978–2005).

Jake Crouthamel’s influence at Syracuse University:

Jake has an influence on the winning of several women’s teams. Women’s basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, women’s and men’s soccer, swimming, track and field, and women’s rowing all made postseason runs as a result of advancements in women’s sports.

With the Carrier Dome’s opening in 1980, significant renovations to Manley Field House and the Lampe Athletics Complex, which included the inclusion of the Roy Simmons Sr. Coaches Center, the Stevenson Educational Center, the Iocolano/ Petty Football Wing, a 1,500-seat soccer stadium, grass football/ lacrosse/ field hockey/ soccer practice fields, and the Joe Vielbig Outdoor Track, as well as new construction at the Joe Vielbig Outdoor Track, he oversaw.

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex was given a new name in 2022, and it is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar, multi-year redevelopment to improve the student-athlete experience.

When the BIG EAST Conference was founded in 1979, one of its founding fathers, Crouthamel, played a crucial role in bringing together many of the East’s basketball juggernauts in a group that quickly rose to prominence in the college basketball landscape. Jake was an adept negotiator when it came to contracts for televised college athletics.

Jake’s role in the formation of BIG EAST:

The BIG EAST began as an all-sports league and quickly rose to prominence in the football world. He pushed for West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Rutgers to join the conference. With the exception of football, well-known Notre Dame joined the association.

Crouthamel also chaired the NCAA Football Issues Committee, was a member of the Honors Court for the College Football Hall of Fame and served on the powerful NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee. Crouthamel was chosen to serve on the NCAA Division I Management Council for a four-year term in August 2001.
He once more played a significant role in responding to the intercollegiate sporting scene’s altering seas in the spring of 2003.

He became an important one in responding to the challenges faced by the BIG EAST. Crouthamel worked at Syracuse for 27 years and received numerous local and national honors. He was honored with the John L. Toner Award from the National Football Foundation in 1999, was named Division I-A Northeast Region Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2000, and was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 for his outstanding work as a player, coach, and athletic administrator.

In addition to receiving the Salvation Army Community Team Spirit Award in 2002 alongside his wife, Carol, he also received the SU Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in 2002 and was recognized as an SU Honorary Letterwinner of Distinction in 1995.

Don’t be fooled; Crouthamel had “old school” written all over him. However, “old school” did not imply a lack of vision or forward-thinking.

Jake Crouthamel’s athletic career:

Jake Crouthamel was born on June 27, 1938, in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. He grabbed three more letters in track and two in basketball, earning All-League honors in all three sports and the school’s leading athlete award.

At Syracuse, he had a roll-up-your-sleeves approach to work. In an administrator’s hat, his drive, which he had developed as a student-athlete and coach, still went at full throttle. As a natural leader, Jake acts as a trailblazer in intercollegiate athletics, and an inspiration to many who came after him in the field.

He was a standout football player at Pennridge High School, playing on teams that won 26 out of 27 games over the course of three years.

At Dartmouth College, where he studied, Crouthamel earned three letters in football and one in track. From 1957 through 1959, he guided Dartmouth to a 19-6-2 record while twice being named All-Ivy and making the second-team All-America.

He set the Big Green lifetime running record, which remained until 1973, and was a two-way halfback. He was selected for the second team of the Ivy League Silver Anniversary. In 1960, Crouthamel graduated with a B.A. in history from Dartmouth.

He was the final player dismissed from training camp and the first player to join the Dallas Cowboys, an NFL expansion team. He then played for the inaugural season of the Boston Patriots of the embryonic AFL before quitting professional football to join the Navy in 1961.

He was active in coaching there, heading the Pearl Harbor Naval team to the 1962 Armed Forces League Championship.

Crouthamel returned to Dartmouth as an assistant coach in 1965 after coaching at Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy in 1964.

In 1971, he took over as head coach, succeeding Bob Blackman. Crouthamel’s teams amassed a 41-20-2 record while he served as the Big Green’s head coach for seven years, winning two league championships and sharing a third.

After the 1977 election, he left his position to accept the Syracuse A.D. position. Crouthamel was survived by his wife, Carol, and two daughters, Lisa (Jim) Evans and Christie Falkenburg, and four grandsons, John and Owen Evans and Ted and Jake Falkenburg.

Tributes to Jake Crouthamel:

Angelo Di Carlo tweeted,

Rest in peace to a great man. Not sure I got in more arguments as a student reporter than with Jake Crouthamel lol. not a bad thing. That meant he treated student media as legit. I grew as a journalist greatly from my interactions with him. Prayers to the Crouthamel family.

Dr. Dave Kelley-UC tweeted,

“In truly being an effective athletic administrator, you must hire good people. I could be the reincarnation of Vishnu, but it’s not me alone who will get things done. You must surround yourself with good people to cooperatively get things done.”-Jake Crouthamel;  @Cuse AD ’78-’05

Mike Ostrowski tweeted,

Before the game, the Orange held a moment of silence for former Athletic Director Jake Crouthamel, who passed away earlier today. Crouthamel is best remembered for his role in constructing the Dome and the formation of the Big East Conference.

MikeTirico tweeted,

Sending condolences and prayers to all who were lucky enough to have known Jake Crouthamel. He helped build the Dome, the Big East and the foundation of modern SU athletics. Jake hired Hall of Fame coaches and was a friend and mentor for so many of us. May he rest in peace.

Alan Cavanna tweeted,

Jake is one of the most significant people in the history of Syracuse athletics. This profile from 2003 is worth your time.

Ben C. Sutton, Jr. tweeted,

Been so fortunate to work with some of the finest leaders in sports. None more dedicated to values of #Character #Integrity #HardWork than @SyracuseU Jake Crouthamel. Incredible privilege to be your partner. Will miss you – and your gin martinis served in a paper cup, my friend!

KEEP READING,

Who is Mary Brown? Wisconsin Nurse amputated dying man’s foot without permission

Joanna Luna missing: Who is Richard “Xavier” Rodriguez? Prime suspect in abduction

Follow us on Twitter for more updates.

Leave a Comment

close