BALTIMORE, Md. — Johns Hopkins head football coach Jim Margraff died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 58.
He was the winningest coach in Hopkins history and led the Blue Jays for 28 years.
His team just finished the program's best season, going 12-2 and advancing to the national semifinals.
“Jim Margraff was a thoughtful, humble, passionate and exceptionally talented leader and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time,” Johns Hopkins Director of Athletics Alanna W. Shanahan stated. “He left an indelible impact on all he touched and he made us all better. We will forever be thankful for the unparalleled experiences he provided for so many over the course of his highly successful career.”
"Great coach, great leader, and no one loved and has done more for Hopkins football. Pride and poised coach."
Margraff was just named the 2018 Division III National Coach of the Year and was also awarded the AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year.
A memorial service is expected to be held on the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus.
“Obviously it was a shock to all of us when we heard the news today from,” said Johns Hopkins Men’s Lacrosse coach and Blue Jay alumni Dave Pietramala. “There was no better person. He was a wonderful, wonderful coach and clearly did a tremendous job with that program, but far beyond that he was a better man.
“The level of care he had for his players and his staff, the wonderful things he did for his young coaches. It’s just a terrible loss for the Hopkins family, and clearly our hearts are broken for the Margraff family, Alison and his children,” Pietramala said. “Our community lost a very special man.”
The Ravens tweeted out a statement on Margraff's passing:
Statement from the Baltimore Ravens: pic.twitter.com/G09ekBrIPd
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 2, 2019
We will continue to update this story as it becomes available.
