Former Yale coach Tony Reno, who won five Ivy titles, dies at 52

Tony Reno, Yale's former football coach, died at 52. Yale announced the death on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, without stating a cause. Reno stepped down in February 2026 citing health issues after 14 seasons. He finished 83-49 with five Ivy League titles, second in program wins behind Carm Cozza's 179-119-5. His last team went 9-3, won the Ivy League championship, and took Yale's first NCAA Division I FCS playoff win, 43-42 over Youngstown State after trailing 42-14 in the third quarter, then lost to Montana State 21-13 and finished 13th in the FCS rankings. Yale beat Harvard in seven of Reno's last nine meetings. Athletic director Victoria Chun called Reno an extraordinary member of the Yale Athletics family who invested in mentorship and whose relationships would define his legacy. Head coach Kevin Cahill said Reno valued family first, loved his players, and held them to standards they often did not know they could reach, adding it was never simply about winning championships. Colleagues posted tributes on social media on Oct. 2, 2026. Coverage shows no dispute on the facts; the cause of death remains unreleased.