FORMER FOOTBALL COACH BOB MATTOS PASSES AWAY AT AGE 68

3/14/2010

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Longtime Sacramento State head football coach Bob Mattos succumbed to brain cancer on Sunday, March 14, at his home in Rancho Murieta, Calif. He was 68.

Mattos rejoined his alma mater as the head coach in 1978 and stayed in that role through the 1992 season. During that time, he compiled an 84-73-2 record and still ranks as the winningest coach in Sacramento State football history in terms of victories and winning percentage.

Arguably, his best season came in 1988 when he led the Hornets to the semifinals of the Div. II football playoffs. That season, the team went 8-2 in the regular season and then earned victories at UC Davis and at home against North Carolina Central before falling to North Dakota State.

"He's such a special person and truly embodies the spirit of Sacramento State," Director of Athletics Terry Wanless told the Sacramento Bee. "He's Mr. Hornet."

Prior to taking the reigns of the Hornet program, Mattos coached at Jesuit High School, Orestimba High School, Turlock High School and Stagg High School. He also had a stint with the Sacramento Gold Miners of the Canadian Football League and was the athletics director at Elk Grove High School.

Mattos returned to the University in recent and helped raise money for the Eli & Edythe Broad Fieldhouse.

Donations for a fund that has been set up in his name can be sent to The Bob Mattos Fund, c/o Marshall Sperbeck, Head Football Coach, Sacramento State, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA 95819-6099. Checks need to made payable to University Foundation at Sacramento State.

A viewing will be held on St. Joachim's Catholic Church in Newman, Calif., on Thursday, March 18, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will take place on Friday, March 19, at 10 a.m. also at St. Joachim's. The church is located at 1121 Main Street, Newman, Calif.