FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Methodist University mourns the passing of legendary football coach Jim Sypult, who passed away on Monday while on vacation in Peru. Sypult served as head coach of the Methodist football team for 19 years beginning in 1992 until he stepped down following the 2010 season.
 
The winningest coach in program history, Sypult won 89 games in his career and guided the Monarchs from the early years of the program through some of the most celebrated seasons in program history. He posted nine seasons with a record of .500 or better and led the Monarchs to their first-ever national ranking and conference title. Upon his retirement in 2010, he had been responsible for all but two wins in the history of Methodist football.
 
"The Monarch Football Family is broken hearted over the news of Coach Sy's passing. Jim Sypult is the father of Methodist Football," said Methodist Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Eavenson, who worked under Sypult for 14 years before himself becoming the head football coach prior to the 2011 season. "He is a legend. He took over a program that was three years old and had not had much success and built it into a championship program. Coach Sy made a difference in the lives of the young men he coached and those who coached with him. Coach taught more than the game of football - he taught those around him life lessons.  His players loved him, he was a father figure to all and will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife (former Methodist professor) Dr. Sharron Sypult, daughter Jill and their entire family.  "
 
At Methodist, the Monarchs were 0-10 in Sypult's first season, just the fourth season in program history, but it did not take long for Sypult to turn things around. Methodist finished 4-6 in Sypult's second season and back-to-back season of 5-5 followed. In 1996, Methodist posted its first winning season with a 6-4 record and followed that up with a 9-1 record in 1997. The Monarchs finished the '97 season ranked No. 20 in the nation - the first national ranking for the team in program history.
 
The 1997 team featured four All-Americans and a pair of MU Hall of Fame Inductees (Trayfer Monroe, DeCarlos West). In all, Sypult coached 11 different All-Americans, including two-time honoree Quincy Malloy (2000, 2001). Malloy, another MU Hall of Famer who played for Sypult, was the USA South Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. Over his 19 years at Methodist, Sypult coached 96 all-conference selections, a pair of Defensive Players of the Year, one Offensive Player of the Year and one Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was named the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2000.
 
"Coach Jim Sypult was not just a coach or a mentor to me, he was a father figure and to me I considered him a hero," said Malloy, who now serves as University's Director of Accessibility & Disability Services. "One of the most well-respected men that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He recruited me to play football for Methodist and was an intricate part in my employment here at Methodist University. He will always have a special part, not only in my heart, but my mother and father's hearts for what he has done for me personally."
 
Prior to taking the reins of the Monarchs, Sypult had distinguished himself as an accomplished collegiate coach with stints as the defensive coordinator at Davidson (1979-91) and Middle Tennessee State (1974-78). He served as the defensive coordinator at Fairmont State in 1973, and he was a high school coach at Liberty (Va.) from 1971-72 and Elkins (W.Va.) from 1968-1970.
 
Originally from Fairmont, West Virginia, Sypult was a three-year letterwinner in football at West Virginia University and served as a team captain in 1966. He obtained his B.S. from West Virginia in 1966 and then served as a graduate assistant with the football program while earning his Master's degree. His wife Sharon was an associate professor of journalism and communications at Methodist.
 
Sypult's memorial service and celebration will be held at the Spring Lake Pavillion on Hilton Head Island on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 10:30 am. Rev. Dave Holloway will conduct the service with lunch to follow. Any and all comments, stories, songs from coaches, former players, friends and family are welcome.