The ETSU athletics department announced the passing of Carl Torbush; however, the exact cause of his death was not revealed.
He passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2023, at the age of 72.
Carl Torbush was a former American football coach who enjoyed a long and distinguished career in coaching.
He began his coaching career at the high school level before moving on to coach at the college level.
During his career, he had coaching stints at programs such as Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, and his alma mater, Carson-Newman College.
Furthermore, he served as the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University in 1987, the University of North Carolina from 1997 to 2000, and East Tennessee State University from 2013 to 2017.
Overall, he compiled a 31–48 career head coaching record and dedicated 42 years to working as a college football coach.
Carl Torbush Cause Of Death & Obituary
Carl Torbush, a native of East Spencer, peacefully passed away in his sleep on the night of Sunday, November 6, 2023.
His death was officially announced by the ETSU athletics department.
Last week, Torbush had received a diagnosis of ALS, although the exact cause of his death was not disclosed. However, he had previously faced a battle with cancer.
In 2010, during his tenure as the defensive coordinator at Kansas, he was diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer, which led to him undergoing surgery for its treatment.
He made a successful recovery and eventually returned to coaching before retiring in December 2017.
Carl Torbush Wife Janet & Son Trey
The late Carl Torbush and his wife Janet have a son named Trey Torbush.
Trey Torbush (born: February 26, 1990) studied at American Christian Academy and attended Carson-Newman, where he was a member of the Eagles’ football team.
Football Community Reacts To His Loss
ETSU President Brian Norland spoke about the late coach, emphasizing that he would be remembered for his vision and character.
Norland praised Torbush for his leadership and guidance as the school restarted its football program after a decade-long hiatus.
UNC’s Mack Brown shared his thoughts on Torbush, posting on X (formerly Twitter),
“We lost a great man too soon. Coach Torbush touched so many lives in a positive way. He loved the game of football, especially defense.”
Brown also noted that Torbush played a pivotal role as the architect of one of college football’s most outstanding defenses during the ’96 and ’97 seasons at Carolina.
Carolina Football also joined in, posting on X to express their condolences to Coach Torbush’s loved ones during this challenging time.
