Discussions of Carl Torbush’s health and illness have dominated social media, and it’s our duty to let you in on the ailment that took his life.
Who was Carl Torbush?
Carl Torbush was an American football and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University in 1987, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1997 to 2000, and East Tennessee State University (ETSU) from 2013 to 2017, compiling a career college football record of 31–48.
Carl Torbush biography
Torbush, originally from East Spencer, North Carolina, moved to Knoxville, Tennessee with his family when he was 11 years old. He attended Austin-East High School where he played multiple sports and received athletic scholarship offers from various Division I schools.
However, he chose to walk-on at the University of Tennessee but transferred to Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City after not receiving any playing time as a freshman. At Carson-Newman, he excelled in both baseball and football, earning first-team NAIA All-American honors in his senior year.
Torbush graduated from Carson-Newman in 1974. After college, Torbush briefly coached at Carter High School in Knoxville before signing with the Kansas City Royals in February 1975. Following his one-season professional baseball career, he began his collegiate coaching career at Baylor University where he earned his master’s degree in physical education and health in 1976.
Torbush went on to serve as the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University in 1987, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1997 to 2000, and East Tennessee State University (ETSU) from 2013 to 2017. He also served as the head baseball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University from 1977 to 1979. Torbush retired from coaching in December 2017.
Carl Torbush career as coach
He initiated his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Baylor Bears. Later, he coached for various teams including the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, Ole Miss Rebels, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas A&M Aggies, and the Carson-Newman Eagles.
During his tenure as defensive coordinator at Ole Miss from 1983 to 1986, the team achieved moderate success with an 8-3-1 record in the 1986 season. The Rebel defense was ranked as the best defense in the Southeastern Conference, allowing opponents an average of less than 13 points per game. After the 1986 season, Torbush was appointed as the head coach at Louisiana Tech.
In May 2011, he resigned from his position as defensive coordinator at the University of Kansas due to prostate cancer. Later, in January 2012, he joined Liberty University as the linebackers coach.
Carl Torbush illness and health: What sickness killed him
In May 2011, Carl Torbush received a diagnosis of prostate cancer and subsequently underwent surgery for its treatment. Following a successful recovery, Torbush resumed his coaching duties. However, in 2023, Torbush faced another health setback as he was diagnosed with ALS. Tragically, Torbush passed away on November 6, 2023, at the age of 72, just a week after receiving the devastating ALS diagnosis.
Prostate cancer originates within the prostate gland, which is an integral component of the male reproductive system. Opting for active surveillance, where no treatment is administered, is a common choice among individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer due to its typically slow growth and localized presence. However, in cases where the cancer exhibits rapid progression and metastasis, conventional treatment options such as radiation therapy and surgical intervention are frequently employed.
