Boulder, Colo. ? Eddie Crowder, who spent nearly half a century at the University of Colorado as a football coach, athletic director and mentor to generations of players, coaches and administrators, died Tuesday night from complications of leukemia, the school said. He was 77.

Crowder, who played quarterback at the University of Oklahoma under Bud Wilkinson, compiled a record of 67-49-2 in 11 seasons as Colorado’s coach, from 1963 to 1973. He also served as athletic director starting in 1965, a role he continued in for 11 seasons after stepping down as coach.