Southern Connecticut State University Athletics and SCSU Football were saddened to learn of the passing of former Owls' head coach George DeLeone on Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022.

"Coach DeLeone's career at many levels of the game of football impacted so many players and coaches," SCSU Football Head Coach Tom Godek '88 said. "I'm sad to learn of his passing and everyone at Southern Connecticut sends our condolences to his family and many friends."

Though best known for his work as an assistant coach at Syracuse University, DeLeone got his start in coaching in 1970 as an offensive line coach at Southern Connecticut under Harry Shay, winning the Eastern Football Conference Championship in his first season. DeLeone held that position for five seasons before being named the third head coach in Southern Connecticut history in 1976.

"George always made you feel that you were the most important person in his day," SCSU assistant coach Lenny Bonn '76 said. "He made time for you regardless of his busy schedule."

Suiting up for the Owls from 1972-75, DeLeone was Bonn's position coach. In his first year as the Owls' head coach, DeLeone hired Bonn as his graduate assistant, where he served for the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

"I can't count the number of people he helped develop in the coaching profession at Southern Connecticut and throughout the State," Bonn said. "He selflessly gave himself to the game of football. My prayers go to Barbara and to his family."

DeLeone led the Owls for four seasons before advancing his career to the NCAA Division I ranks. He coached at Rutgers and Holy Cross before joining the coaching staff at Syracuse in 1985 until 1996. He then left Syracuse for the NFL's San Diego Chargers for a season before returning to Syracuse as the Orange's associate head coach and defensive coordinator in 1998.

He moved back over to the other side of the ball in 1999 and served as the team's offensive coordinator until 2005 when he coached at Mississippi for a season, followed by two years at Temple. After three seasons as the tight ends coach with the Miami Dolphins, he was named UConn's offensive coordinator in 2011 and an associate head coach in 2013. He finished his career with two seasons with the Cleveland Brown, a return to Temple in 2016, and then Baylor from 2017 through 2019.

In 41 years coaching college football, DeLeone was on the sidelines for 14 bowl games. At Syracuse he coached five student-athletes that were named first team All-American and guided 'Cuse to three BIG EAST Championships.