Former Pitt player, coach Curtis Bray dies

Just some sad news yesterday when news broke that former Pitt player and coach Curtis Bray died - he was only 43 and a cause of death wasn't immediately known. He reportedly collapsed while working out.

Bray, you might remember, played at Pitt in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a linebacker. Before that, he played at Gateway and was an incredible athlete there, as noted by the Trib. He later coached the defensive ends and linebackers at Pitt from 2000-06 and most recently, was coaching the defensive line under former Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, now the head coach at Iowa State.

Bray also did some coaching at Villanova, Temple, Duquesne, and Western Kentucky.

As you would expect, Pitt's athletics department released a statement after news broke of his passing:

“The Pitt Football Family is shocked and saddened to hear of Curtis Bray’s untimely passing. Curtis made indelible contributions as both a player and assistant coach at Pitt. His competitive nature on the field was only surpassed by his kind and gentle demeanor off of it. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and many loved ones. While Curtis will be greatly missed, he will not be forgotten by the many people he touched at Pitt.”

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