By Erik Harris, sports editor
LAFAYETTE, La. — University of Louisiana at Lafayette assistant football coach D.J. Looney has died at the age of 31, and the news on Saturday hit hard for so many that knew him, including Leeds head football coach Jerry Hood.
“It’s incredible the reach he had on all of us and the influence that he had on people,” said Hood, who coached Looney at Oak Mountain High School. “It would change you, being around D.J.”
Hood says we can all learn a lot from Looney, who touched so many lives in his short time.
“In 31 years of life, he probably affected more people than I will in my entire life, because he was a true light of the world,” said Hood. “He love people, and we can all use that today—just love other people. He didn’t care who you were. He didn’t care what you thought of him. He was going to love you and bear hug you and smile at you and be your friend.”
“Just an unbelievable person that the Lord let us have for a period of time and we’ll just rejoice when we get to see him again,” Hood continued.
According to the university’s athletic department, Looney passed away following a heart attack sustained during practice.
“The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Department of Athletics mourns the sudden loss of Louisiana Football assistant coach D.J. Looney, who passed away Saturday morning following a heart attack during a team workout at Cajun Field,” read a Twitter post from the university.
Looney previously played for the Mississippi State University football team between 2007 and 2010.
“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,” Mississippi State Director of Athletics John Cohen said.
Looney began his coaching career with the Bulldogs in 2011 as a graduate assistant before making stops at East Mississippi Community College (2012-13), Central Arkansas (2014-15) and Georgia (2016). He returned to Starkville to coach tight ends in 2017.
According to the school, Looney was entering his third season with Louisiana at Lafayette as an assistant offensive line coach.
Hood, who coached him at Oak Mountain, also took to Twitter on Saturday: “What a full life he lived in 31 years. He truly loved his fellow man and we loved him back! We could all learn from D.J.’s spirit. God bless his family during this time.”
Hood said several of his former players have reached out during this difficult time to share memories of their fallen teammate.
“The story to take out of here is he had a group of people all over the country that truly were in love with D.J. Looney,” said Hood. “We can’t all say that. Most of us are just liked by a certain circle. And from all the things I’m reading and hearing, it’s just unbelievable the reach this man had.”