BEAUMONT, Texas – A former Lamar University football coach and golf head coach, Dan Rogas passed away at the age of 91 Tuesday morning. Originally from Port Arthur, a hotbed for talent going to the National Football League, Rogas was the first player from Port Arthur to be drafted by an NFL Franchise (Cleveland Browns, 1951).
 
Success as a coach and player followed Rogas throughout his career, which started at an early age. Rogas was a member of the 1944 Thomas Jefferson High School team that won a state title over a Highland Park squad that was led by future Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Fame selection, Doak Walker. During an era when explosive offenses were not common, TJHS became trend setters outscoring opponents by a margin of nearly 30-7.
 
Following his high school career, Rogas was invited to play in the Blue-Grey High School Football All-American Bowl and Senior Bowl. His ability on the field caught the eye of former New York Times sportswriter, Grantland Rice, who named Rogas one of the top offensive linemen in the country.
 
Rogas would go on to continue his playing career at Tulane from 1947-50. During his time with the Green Wave, Rogas started all four seasons, on both sides of the ball, guiding Tulane to several top 10 national finishes. Rogas would eventually be named to the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame for his efforts on the field.
 
Following his collegiate career, Rogas was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round, becoming the first in a long line of talent drafted from Port Arthur. He was traded to the Detroit Lions prior to the start of the 1951 season where he started as a rookie. Rogas a key figure in an offensive line that blocked for Bobby Lane and Doak Walker.
 
Despite his experience in professional sports, a Southeast Texan at heart, Rogas returned to the Golden Triangle when he was hired as the offensive line coach by LU (then Lamar Tech) in 1955. He held that position with the Cardinals until 1971. During his time on the gridiron, Rogas produced 22 all-conference selections and five All-Americans.
 
Rogas' success in the world of athletics expanded far beyond football. In 1963, he also accepted the role of head golf coach, and began the process of building a powerhouse. In his first season on the links, Rogas led his squad to a Lone Star Conference title. The following year, the Cardinals moved into the Southland Conference and began a run of dominance that has not been equaled since. The Red and White never lost an SLC title from 1964 – 1973 – the Cards won more titles during that 10-year stretch than any other SLC school has won in its history. Rogas wrapped up his career being named Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1981. That season marked the second time in his career that he received the league's individual honor, and the 12^th time he guided Big Red to a conference title.
 
Under Rogas' direction, the Cardinals won two Division II national titles reaching the pinnacle in 1967 and 1968. Those two titles, however, came on the heels of one of the most heartbreaking moments of his coaching career. The 1966 squad lost the national title, finishing second by a single stroke, to Chico State. During that dominant stretch, Rogas was twice named the College Division National Coach of the Year.
 
The athletes reaped the benefits of Rogas' instruction. During his time as head coach, he produced nine individual conference champions and 12 All-Americans, with former standout Mike Nugent earning both college and university All-America honors in 1967.
 
"When Dan got the head coaching job, he took it upon himself to meet with a lot of the PGA pros from the area and ask them their thoughts on how to build the program," said Nugent, a 1973 LU Hall of Honor inductee. "They all told him to go to the high schools in the area and recruit each school's top player. That way, your bringing in talented kids who are used to winning and already have a competitive drive. We had already been competing against each other in high school and the junior level for four to five years – we didn't want to lose each other even though we were on the same team. That made me work on my game even harder because I didn't want to miss a trip with the team."
 
In 1972, Rogas took on more responsibility with the university transitioning into an administrative role. The department's business manager, Rogas helped create the Cardinal Club which is still in existence today. He also served as president of the Young Men's Business League. In 1986, Rogas was inducted into the LU Hall of Honor.
 
-LU CARDINALS-