Former UTEP football head coach Dana Dimel dead at the age of 62
EL PASO, TX (KVIA) -- Former UTEP football head coach, Dana Dimel has died at the age of 62.
Dimel ran the UTEP football program for six seasons from 2018 to 2023, leading the Miners to the 2021 New Mexico Bowl.
“So very sad to hear of the unexpected passing of Coach Dimel last night,” UTEP President Heather Wilson said in a university press release Tuesday morning. “He was unfailingly pleasant and decent to all. My thoughts are with his family and the hundreds of student-athletes who were positively impacted by him over decades as a coach.”
“I am saddened to learn of coach Dimel’s passing,” Director of Athletics Jim Senter added. “He has been a builder of football programs, a mentor of young men, and has touched many lives. He had a distinguished football coaching career, and his hard work was appreciated by his peers and the fans at Kansas State, Wyoming, Houston, Arizona, UTEP and Illinois. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Julie, Winston, Josey and the Dimel family.”
Dimel's time coaching the Miners resulted in 23 All-Conference USA selections, including current NFL players Jacob Cowing, Elijah Klein, Tyrice Knight and Andrew Meyer.
Following his time at UTEP, Dimel became an assistant football coach at the University of Illinois.
In a statement released Tuesday morning the University of Illinois said "Long-time college football coach and former Kansas State All-American offensive tackle Dana Dimel passed away Tuesday at the age of 62, his family announced. He is survived by his wife, Julie, and children, Winston and Josey."
