Don Veller Dead At Age 94

Don Veller, a gentle and hard-working soul who laid the foundation of Florida State's football success, died Friday afternoon. He was 94.

A star football player at Indiana University, Veller was hired as FSU's first full-time head football coach in 1948, one year after the school turned co-educational and took up the sport. Veller quickly established FSU as a small-college power, leading the Seminoles to their first bowl game (1949 Cigar Bowl) and their first undefeated season (8-0 in 1950).

Career: Head football coach, Elkhart (Ind.) High School (1935-1942); head football coach/director of athletics, Hanover (Ind.) College (1946); assistant football coach, Indiana University (1947); head football coach, Florida State University (1948-1952); head golf coach, Florida State University (1953-58, 1966-67, and 1974-83); professor, Department of Physical Education, Florida State University (1953-1982).

Awards: Indiana University Football Hall of Fame (1978), Florida State Hall of Fame (1981), Florida Sports Hall of Fame (1985), Indiana University Hall of Fame (1986), National Golf Coaches Hall of Fame (1989) and Elkhart (Ind.) Hall of Fame (1999).