VIDEO: Carl Torbush Mossy Creek Conversation

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Legendary Carson-Newman two-sport All-American, Hall of Famer and assistant coach Carl Torbush passed away in his sleep Sunday night at the age of 72. 

A Knoxville native, Torbush graduated from Carson-Newman in 1974 where he lettered in both football (linebacker) and baseball (catcher) and earned first team NAIA All-American honors in both sports that year. He has been inducted into the Carson-Newman, Tennessee Sports and Knoxville Sports Halls of Fames.

"As a football program and family, I'm so disheartened to hear about the loss of Carl Torbush," Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Clowney said. "We love him and pray for his family as they work through these difficult times." 

Torbush started his coaching career at Carter High School in Knoxville as an assistant football and head baseball coach before signing with the Kansas City Royals in 1975. After one season in the Royals organization, Torbush joined Grant Teaff's coaching staff at Baylor University as a graduate assistant. Torbush worked as an assistant coach at SE Louisiana following his stint at Baylor. While coaching linebackers at SE Louisiana, he also was head coach of the baseball program and helped the Lions to a Gulf South title in 1978 at the age of 27. 

"He is a legend, but truly a baseball fan," head baseball coach Tom Griffin. "He would watch games with his Cheerwine and peanuts. I always talked with him about being humble and the importance of faith. Those will be the things that stick with me forever about Carl Torbush."  

From SE Louisiana, he moved to Louisiana Tech and Ole Miss before earning his first head coaching job at Louisiana Tech in 1987.

After one season, Torbush joined North Carolina in 1988 as defensive coordinator. Torbush was named the National Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 1996 as the Tar Heels were the Atlantic Coast Conference's best defense in 1995, '96, and '97. Torbush was named the Tar Heels head coach in 1997 and led UNC to a Gator Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in 1998.

Torbush was a 1997 finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach. During his time at UNC, at least one of his linebackers went pro every year. Among his more notable players were Julius Peppers, Brian Simmons, Greg Ellis, and Dré Bly.

He returned to his alma mater in 2006 to join Ken Sparks staff as associate head coach and linebackers coach.  He helped tutor Eric Rice into the SAC's defensive player of the year and a two-time All-SAC honoree. 

Torbush helped restart East Tennessee State's football program before retiring in 2018. 

Details on a public memorial service will be announced at a later date.