Coach Kevin Cahill's Yale football team is 1-1 on the 2026 college football season, one season after former head coach Tony Reno stepped down because of Kreutzfeld-Jakob Disease, a neurodegenerative condition. Reno passed away on Friday, October 2, rocking the college football world ahead of an exciting Week 5 slate of games.
His death prompted a heartfelt statement in remembrance by Yale athletic director Vicky Chun, as reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN.
“Today, we are deeply saddened by the loss of an extraordinary member of the Yale Athletics family,” Chun wrote. Reno resigned in February 2026, leading Chun to make statements about his character.
She said Reno's impact extended “far beyond championships and wins,” saying he “led with integrity, humility and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
His commitment to serving others was also remembered.
Article Continues Below“Tony Reno devoted his life to serving others…He believed deeply in the power of mentorship and invested wholeheartedly in the success and well-being of his players, colleagues and friends,” Chun added.
“While his accomplishments on the football field were remarkable, it is the relationships he built and the lives he changed that will define his enduring legacy. Our thoughts are with Tony, Dante, Angelina, Vince, and the entire Reno family during this time.”
News of Reno's death came amid an exciting Week 5 of college football action as the race for playoff spots began to heat up. Reno was no stranger to national success as coach of the Bulldogs, serving for 14 years and guiding his team to FCS playoff appearances along with Ivy League titles in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
He amassed 83 career wins, the second most of any coach in Yale football history, before passing the torch to coach Cahill. Week 5 brings a home tilt against the Merrimack College Warriors, a chance for the Bulldogs to honor their fallen program legend in front of a home town crowd in New Haven, Connecticut.