Chuck Amato, who led NC State to the best season in school history and helped Bobby Bowden win his first national title at Florida State, died Monday at his home in Raleigh, N.C.
Amato was 80.
In a statement, NC State said Amato died under hospice care.
Amato played linebacker at NC State from 1965-67 and was a two-time ACC champion wrestler with the school, too. During his playing career, NC State won a share of the ACC championship in 1965. He soon became an assistant with his alma mater, working under four different coaches - including Lou Holtz - in the 1970s.
He arrived at Florida State in 1982 as a defensive assistant and won two national titles under Bowden while helping coordinator Mickey Andrews coach one of the most feared defenses in the country. During his time at Florida State, Amato coached Andre Wadsworth, Sam Cowart and Peter Boulware among many others.
Duke coach Manny Diaz praised Amato for giving him his start in coaching at Florida State on Monday.
"Wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for Chuck Amato," Diaz said. "Hired me onto my first staff at Florida State, to get a chance to learn from one of the greatest defensive coordinators in history, Mickey Andrews, one of the greatest head coaches in history in Bobby Bowden.
"I don't know anybody who loved NC State University more than Chuck Amato did. In that time what I learned is building a great program is about having extraordinarily high standards."
Amato always dreamed about being the head coach at his alma mater, and it finally happened in 2000 - when he became the first and only NC State graduate to lead the program. In 2002, with future first-round pick Philip Rivers leading the way, he led the Wolfpack to an 11-3 mark - the best in school history. During his seven-year stint as head coach, NC State went 49-37 and made five bowl games.
"He made us believe things we could not see with our own eyes," said former NC State linebacker Dantonio Burnette, who is now the director of strength and conditioning for the Wolfpack football team. "If he was to tell us to go run through that wall, that there was something on the other side, you best believe we would go run through it."
During his time coaching the Wolfpack, Amato coached Bill Cowher, who went on to become head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cowher honored Amato with a social media post on Monday.
"RIP Coach Amato," Cowher wrote. "Thank you for your influence and guidance in shaping me as a young LB from Western PA coming down to @PackFootball . You showed me tough love when I needed it & taught me Commitment, Sacrifice & Teamwork. You'll be missed, but your legacy will NEVER be forgotten!"
After he was fired from NC State following the 2006 season, Amato returned to Florida State and coached there until Bowden retired in 2009. He finished his coaching career at Akron.
Amato is survived by his wife, Peggy, and two daughters.