Legendary Lexington Football Coach Bill Tighe Dies Of Coronavirus

LEXINGTON, MA — Bill Tighe did not as much give an interview as much as he held court. And it wasn't on the field, or in the locker room, where the legendary Lexington High football coach conducted his question-and-answer sessions. It was over breakfast in his favorite Woburn spot.

Doug Hastings soon found out that quirky custom when he began covering Tighe for the Lexington Minuteman in 2003 in the twilight of the coach's career. For the next seven years until Tighe's retirement, Hastings would meet Tighe over breakfast each Monday or Tuesday to talk about the game the weekend before and the upcoming contest.

"That was the first thing any new sports editor in Lexington learned," Hastings recalled. "You met him for breakfast and breakfast was always on him. He was a terrific interview. It was just like any interview you would have before or after a game, but it had to be on coach Tighe's terms. They all loved him there. He really lit up a room."

On Wednesday, Tighe died from causes related to the new coronavirus at Care One in Wilmington, according to The Boston Globe. He was 95 years old.

Tighe coached the Minutemen on his terms to 186 victories over 36 years in Lexington as part of a 62-year coaching career in football, baseball and track. He survived changes in culture and changes in the athletic department. He was considered the nation's oldest active coach when he retired in 2010 at age 86.

"You always hear of the cliché old-school coach," Hastings said. "He was certainly that. He was a pleasure to work with — such a nice man."

According to The Globe, Tighe came down with a bout of pneumonia in January while at the Wilmington facility, and tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

“What matters is not how long you live...but how you live.” Coach Bill Tighe taught us all to live better. Sending so much to the Tighe Family & to all of our Minutemen past & present at this difficult time. Faith, Family and Football Always #RIPCoach pic.twitter.com/Qgcbj7q6HL
— Lexington Athletics (@LexMinutemenAth) April 15, 2020

Born in Ashland, Tighe played baseball and football at Boston University before beginning a career as a guidance counselor and athletics coach. He finished his career with 286 victories on the gridiron in three stops.

"I never met a coach who was as universally well-liked as Coach Tighe was with the other Middlesex League coaches," Hastings said. "There was a new athletic director at one point in Lexington, and there was a lot of turnover at that time, but it was almost like (replacing TIghe) was not negotiable. I don't think it ever even came up."

Sending all of our thoughts and prayers to the Tighe family and those he influenced. Can’t even begin to put into words the impact he had on so many. “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” – Maya Angelou pic.twitter.com/Wm6uWCGDXg
— Lexington Football (@MinutemanFBall) April 15, 2020

Hastings said that, while the days of ruling a program with an iron fist had long since passed by the time he began covering Tighe in his final seasons, the devotion and loyalty to him within the program was as strong as ever.

"Fear is a great motivator in sports," Hastings said. "But somewhere along the line kids just wanted to play for him because they wanted to play for the legendary Bill Tighe."

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