DAVIS, Calif. - Jim Sochor, who lifted the UC Davis football program to unparalleled success during his 19-year tenure as head coach and who was subsequently named to the College Football Hall of Fame, died on Tuesday after a long illness and is being mourned by family, friends, former players and colleagues.

Sochor, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was 77 years old.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Jim Sochor," said Teresa Gould, interim director of athletics. "Aside from being a College Football Hall of Fame inductee and the most decorated coach in UC Davis football history, he was also a wonderfully supportive mentor and friend to many of us in the Athletics Department. He embodied the spirit of 'Aggie Pride' day in and day out with his passion for this University and his commitment to teaching young people. Coach Sochor was someone who touched all of our lives in such a profound way and he will be tremendously missed by the entire UC Davis community."

Sochor, who also served as athletics director and men's golf coach during his UC Davis tenure, was one of the architects of the Aggie football program which recently celebrated its 500th all-time win. Sochor joined former UC Davis coaches Bob Biggs and Bob Foster for an on-field tribute during on Nov. 14 during the Aggies' game against Cal Poly. The playing field at Aggie Stadium is named in his honor.

His name is synonymous with UC Davis football after the most decorated and successful coaching career in the program's 97-year history. With a career record of 156-41-5 in 19 seasons, Sochor won nearly 80 percent of his games. During his tenure as head coach, he recorded 18 consecutive championships in the Far Western Conference and Northern California Athletic Conference, posting an amazing career league record of 92-5 - a 98 percent winning percentage - and earning conference Coach of the Year honors 16 times.

He became head coach in 1970, taking a team that was 3-7 a year earlier and leading it to a 6-4 mark, beginning a string of winning seasons that eventually grew to an NCAA Div. II record 35 years.

During his tenure, Sochor's team played in 13 NCAA postseason games, including the Aggies' only appearance in the championship in 1982. Two other times he led squads to the national semifinals. In 1971, the Aggies won a share of the league title, never letting go of the conference championship banner under Sochor's time at the helm. UC Davis eventually won or shared 20 consecutive conference titles.

A dozen players of his were drafted by the NFL, including quarterback Ken O'Brien of the New York Jets, safety Bo Eason of the Houston Oilers, quarterback Mike Moroski of the Atlanta Falcons and kicker Rolf Benirschke of the San Diego Chargers. Four former Aggie players or coaches under Sochor went on to win Super Bowl rings. A total of 13 players between 1970-88 won All-America honors, 17 are enshrined in the Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame - as well as Coach Sochor - and eight received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships.

"The passing of legendary Coach Sochor is sad and devastating," said UC Davis head coach Ron Gould. "I personally will be forever grateful for the impact and influence Coach Sochor has had in my life in such a relatively short time. He was always gracious with his time and provided outstanding feedback and clarity that has been invaluable. The impact he made on the student-athletes he coached over the years, and the coaches he developed is sensational and unmatched. His imprint on the coaching fraternity is highly regarded and well-respected throughout the country."

Sochor has been inducted into several Hall of Fames as a player and coach, most notably earning distinction in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. From 1996-98 he was the offensive coordinator for the Scottish Claymores of the World League of American Football, helping the Claymores claim the league title his first year.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from San Francisco State in 1960 and 1965, respectively, and his doctorate in physical education and recreation from Utah in 1968. Sochor played football, basketball and golf at San Francisco State, earning All-FWC and Little All-America accolades in football. He was inducted into the SFSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, and daughters, Terri and Holly.

A campus celebration of Coach Sochor's life is being planned for the spring. An online tribute on www.ucdavisaggies.com will be forthcoming soon.

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Memories for an online tribute can be sent to SochorMemories@outlook.com.