SAN DIEGO -- Longtime professional and college football coach Dennis Green, who settled in San Diego County after he retired, is dead at the age of 67, his family announced Sunday.
According to a statement shared with the NFL Network, the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals died Thursday night from complications of cardiac arrest, with his family by his side.
"Denny was a terrific head coach and inspired his players on and off the field," said Troy Vincent, the National Football League's executive vice president of football operations. "He helped pave the way for minority coaches and recently served as a key advisor on the NFL's Career Development Advisory
Panel."
Green compiled a record of 97-62 with the Vikings, from 1992 to 2001, including eight playoff appearances. His 1998 team was 15-1 in the regular season and set the record for points scored in a season, a mark held for nine years.
He led the Cardinals to a 16-32 mark in three seasons.
Before his NFL career, Green was the head coach at Northwestern from 1981 to 1985, and at Stanford from 1989 to 1991.
After retirement, he moved to Carmel Valley and taught sports management classes at San Diego State University up to 2008.
According to the NFL, Green's family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego.
