Former Yale coach Tony Reno dies at 52

Yale announced Friday, October 2, that former football coach Tony Reno had died at 52. Reno led the Bulldogs for 14 seasons, from 2012 to 2025, and won five Ivy League championships. The school did not give a cause of death. Yale said Reno resigned in February for health reasons and had been on medical leave since the end of the previous season. One report said he was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease in August 2025, but Yale did not connect that reported diagnosis to his death. The cause remains undisclosed. Reno compiled an 83-49 record as head coach, the second-most wins in Yale football history, behind Carm Cozza. His five Ivy titles came in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025. He was named Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2022. Yale’s most recent championship season included a 9-3 record and the program’s first FCS playoff victory. The Bulldogs rallied from a 28-point deficit to beat Youngstown State 43-42, then lost 21-13 to Montana State in the next round. Reno’s son Dante played quarterback for Yale during the postseason run. Athletic director Victoria Chun said Reno invested in the development and well-being of players, colleagues and friends.