Former LSU assistant coach Steve Kragthorpe, who joined the Tigers’ coaching staff in 2011 as offensive coordinator, passed away Sunday night at the age of 59 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Kragthorpe stepped down from his offensive coordinator role in August 2011, just seven months after his hiring, upon receiving his Parkinson’s diagnosis. However, he remained with the team, coaching quarterbacks in 2011 and 2012.
Former LSU assistant coach Steve Kragthorpe, who joined the Tigers’ coaching staff in 2011 as their offensive coordinator, passed away Sunday night at the age of 59 following a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s disease.
In August 2011, just seven months after being hired, Kragthorpe stepped down from his role as offensive coordinator after receiving his Parkinson’s diagnosis. However, he continued to contribute to the team by coaching quarterbacks during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
A native of Missoula, Montana, Kragthorpe transitioned to an analyst role for LSU in 2013, a position he held through the 2018 season.
Before his tenure at LSU, Kragthorpe served as head coach at Tulsa (2003-06) and Louisville (2007-09) after working as an offensive coordinator at several schools. At Tulsa, he revitalized a program that hadn’t seen a winning season since 1991, leading them to three bowl appearances in four years and compiling a 44-43 overall record between Tulsa and Louisville.
Kragthorpe’s coaching career began after playing quarterback at Eastern New Mexico and West Texas. He rose through the coaching ranks, gaining recognition as an offensive coordinator at Northern Arizona, North Texas, and Texas A&M. He also coached quarterbacks at Boston College, where his work helped Drew Bledsoe earn a Pro Bowl selection after throwing for 4,359 yards and 24 touchdowns with 15 interceptions.
