A longtime New Jersey football coach and athletic director tragically passed away while doing precisely what he preached to his athletes: Working out and staying in shape.
As reported by the Asbury Park Press, Jackson (N.J.) Liberty High football coach and athletic director Tim Osborn died suddenly after collapsing while working out at a location of the Bally’s Total Fitness gym franchise. Brick Township first responders reportedly attempted to revive Osborn but were unsuccessful, and the coach was pronounced dead at nearby Brick Hospital shortly thereafter.
In the immediate aftermath of Osborn’s passing, school officials quickly issued statements of support in memory of a coach who was referred to as a, “mentor and father figure.”
“Tim Osborn was a man beyond a head football coach, but a mentor and father figure for so many students, not only here at Jackson Liberty but the entire Shore community,” Liberty principal Maureen Butler told the Press. “He went above and beyond for everyone, especially our students and staff and was an integral part of making Jackson Liberty what it is today. Our Liberty family is so deeply saddened by his passing and will miss him more than words can express.”
While Osborn has made his name at Liberty, his roots in the Jersey football community go beyond his most recent employers. He was formerly an assistant coach and former player at his alma mater, Brick Township (N.J.) High and also served as an assistant coach at Toms River (N.J.) High.
Now, with Osborn gone, all three schools feel his absence acutely.
“I love him like a son,” Brick Township football coach Warren Wolf, who both coached Osborn on the field and served as a mentor, told the Press. “God only takes good people. I know he’s in good hands with our heavenly father.
“He did everything I asked him to do. If there’s such a word as perfect, he was that type of guy, steady and dependable.”
Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.