Former Auburn football coach Pat Dye tests positive for coronavirus

Former Auburn football coach Pat Dye has tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently hospitalized in Atlanta due to kidney-related issues. The news of the 80-year-old coach's diagnosis was shared by Dye's son Pat Jr.

"As has previously been reported, my dad has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," Dye Jr. told ESPN in a statement. "However, his positive test occurred a number of days ago during a routine precautionary test pursuant to his hospitalization for kidney-related issues.

"He has essentially been asymptomatic for the virus and is resting comfortably. We fully anticipate his release from the hospital in the next few days once his kidney function is stable. On behalf of my family, I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support for Dad and our family upon the reporting of this news."

Before he became the head coach at Auburn, Dye played for the Georgia Bulldogs in college before joining Bear Bryant's coaching staff in Alabama as an assistant head coach in 1965. He stayed at Alabama until 1973, then coached at East Carolina and Wyoming before taking over at Auburn.

Dye coached the Auburn Tigers from 1981-92, leading the team to a 99-39-4 record over 12 seasons and winning at least a share of the SEC championship four times. He was named SEC Coach of the Year three times and currently has the third-most wins in Auburn history, behind only Mike Donahue and Ralph Jordan. He also served as Auburn's athletic director from 1981 to 1991.

In 2005, Dye was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the playing field at Jordan-Hare Stadium was named after him.