The Dothan Eagle reported Thursday night, May 28, former Auburn assistant coach under Pat Dye, Bud Casey, died in long-term care after suffering a stroke April 4.
The Dothan native graduated from Dothan High School in 1958 and joined the Crimson Tide under Bear Bryant’s first recruiting class as an All-American.
He played for Alabama for two-and-a-half years before moving on to Northwestern State University. He was then drafted to play for the Miami Dolphins in 1966.
Casey started coaching in 1968 at Northeastern State as a defensive coordinator for three years before moving on to the University of Tampa, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, and eventually Auburn. In his time at Auburn, Casey served as a running back coach, leading numerous Auburn greats, including Bo Jackson.
After Auburn, Casey finished his coaching run at Texas Christian University.
After his coaching career, Casey worked in fundraising for Troy University and took part in a local talk show called “The Bud and Amos Show” before his stroke.
In 2004, Casey was inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame and later served on its committee.
“Bud was one of those guys that he had a tremendous way about him – always laughing and joking around – but when it was time to get serious, he could get serious and he was a heck of a football coach and recruiter,” former Troy football coach Larry Blakeney, a close friend of Casey, told The Dothan Eagle.
Blakeney said Casey was a jokester and a good coach.
“I think most anybody who played for him certainly understood he had his comical side and joking around,” Blakeney said. “But he knew football and how to coach them up and get them ready to play. Bud Casey left his mark at not only Auburn, but on a lot of people. He was a good friend and a good man."
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