Fred Jacoby, the 1995 winner of the NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award, died Saturday, March 15 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 80.

"Fred Jacoby will be deeply missed," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "He was a good football coach, who became a great friend to all as one of our country's top athletic administrators. Through his superior leadership skills, he was able to make make many contributions that will benefit the field of college athletics for years to come, especially in his role as chair of the National Letter of Intent program. Our thoughts are with his family as we pay tribute to our dear friend and his impact on our profession."

Jacoby spent more than 50 years coaching and as a leaader in athletics administration. He most recently served as the first commissioner of the American Southwest Conference (1996-2006), helping its members schools transition from the NAIA to the NCAA Division III and increasing the conference from 8 members to 16. From 1982-93, he served as commissioner of the now-disbanded Southwest Conference.

His other jobs included positions as an assistant football coach at Wisconsin, an assistant at the Ohio Athletic Conference, the first commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference (now WIAC), commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, and commissioner of the Lone Star conference. Jacoby was one of only a few individuals to have commissioned conferences at all three NCAA Divisions.

He served as Chair of the National Letter of Intent program for the longest tenure in its history – 22 years from 1973-95. Jacoby is past president of the Collegiate Commissioners Association, chair of NCAA committees on Membership Structure, Postgraduate Scholarship, Research and Championship Standards. He served on NCAA committees, was secretary-treasurer of the College Football Association, a member of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Team Selection Committee, and a voter in the college football Harris Poll to determine the annual Bowl Championship Series entries. Jacoby earned degrees from The Ohio State University and Wisconsin.

Survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Marcia; sons Tom, Steve and Bob; and two grandchildren.

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