DALLAS – Emory Bellard, a former Texas A&M and Mississippi State coach credited with developing the wishbone offense when he was an assistant at Texas, has died. He was 83.
Cathy Capps, director of the Texas A&M Lettermen's Association, said Bellard died early Thursday at a care facility in Georgetown in Central Texas. She said Bellard had Lou Gehrig's disease.
Bellard was on Darrell Royal's staff at Texas in 1968 when the Longhorns developed a multiple running back formation that came to be known as the wishbone.
Bellard later led the Aggies to a 48-27 record in seven years before resigning during the 1978 season. He was 37-42 in seven seasons at Mississippi State.
He coached at Texas high schools for more than two decades.
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