Sad news out of the state of Louisiana today as the University of Louisiana announced that assistant coach D.J. Looney died of a heart attack during a football team workout. He was 31.
“At this time, the Department of Athletics asks that fans, friends and acquaintances of Coach Looney keep his family and the football program in their thoughts and prayers,” the university released in a statement.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Department of Athletics mourns the sudden loss of Louisiana Football assistant coach D.J. Looney, who passed away Saturday morning following a heart attack during a team workout at Cajun Field. pic.twitter.com/7e1DemV5jA
— Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns® (@RaginCajuns) August 1, 2020
This was to be Looney’s third season with the Ragin’ Cajuns as its offensive line coach where he had mentored players such as Kevin Dotson, the first AP first-team All-American in the programs history and fourth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Looney played football at Mississippi State where he graduated in 2010. He served on the NCAA Football Issues Committee for three years while in Starkville and on the SEC Student Advisory Council.