Former school soccer head coach Dana Dimel died at 62 on Tuesday, his household introduced.
A former All-American offensive sort out at Kansas State within the Eighties, Dimel spent 19 seasons as a Ok-State assistant over three stints and in addition served as head coach at Wyoming, Houston and UTEP. He spent this season as a senior offensive assistant at Illinois.
Dimel died in his sleep, based on his agent, Pete Roussel.
Assertion on the passing of Dana Dimel. pic.twitter.com/tPTSSQHkhI
— Pete Roussel (@PeteRoussel) December 3, 2024
“Dana was an distinctive individual, husband, father, pal, and soccer coach,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema mentioned in an announcement. “He affected the lives of numerous coaches, gamers, and employees members for greater than three many years in school soccer. His affect on our program was unbelievable to witness and be part of. His infectious optimistic power had a significant impression on me, our gamers, and everybody in our constructing daily. He might be dearly missed. Our ideas and prayers are along with his spouse and household.”
Dimel spent most of his run at Ok-State as offensive coordinator below Invoice Snyder, serving to lead the staff to a few seasons of at the very least 10 wins, a Huge 12 championship and 12 bowl video games.
“He was a particular pal and training companion,” Snyder mentioned in an announcement. “I admired his ardour for serving to his gamers and fellow coaches. He was a giant a part of the event of the Kansas State soccer program, and alongside along with his spouse Julie, very significant within the Manhattan neighborhood.”
As a head coach, Dimel produced three successful seasons in three years at Wyoming within the late Nineties and a bowl look at UTEP in 2021. He joined the Illinois employees in July.
Dimel is survived by his spouse, Julie, and youngsters Winston and Josey. Winston was a three-time All-Huge 12 fullback at Ok-State below Dana earlier than transferring to UTEP when his father took that job.
“His passing is gut-wrenching,” Roussel mentioned in an announcement. “Dana was my first shopper over a decade in the past and the one most fulfilling shopper to be with after a win. A few of the video games he referred to as at Ok-State have been exceptional and he by no means cared about receiving particular person credit score. Dana liked his spouse. He completely adored his youngsters. He was some of the optimistic individuals I knew, and he was unafraid of any problem. He had an unbelievable zest for all times, one that might make these round him smile time and time once more. I’ll miss Dana greater than phrases can specific.”
(Photograph: Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
