Louisiana assistant offensive line coach D.J. Looney died Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack during a team workout in Lafayette, La. He was 31.
“At this time, the Department of Athletics asks that fans, friends and acquaintances of Coach Looney keep his family and the football program in their thoughts and prayers,” the school said in a statement.
Looney was entering his third season on the Ragin’ Cajuns coaching staff.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Looney played on the offensive line at Mississippi State from 2007-10.
“The entire Mississippi State Family is deeply saddened and heartbroken by the loss of one of our very own in D.J. Looney,” Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen said in a statement. “D.J. was an outstanding student-athlete and coach and an even better person. He had such a positive personality, attitude and always a smile on his face. D.J. will be remembered and missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Before coaching at Louisiana, Looney had coaching stops at Georgia, Central Arkansas and East Mississippi Community College.
