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Who is Terry Donahue's wife? UCLA football coaching legend, 77, dies after 2-year cancer battle

College Football Hall of Famer Terry Donahue died days after his 77th birthday. He is survived by Andrea, his wife of 52 years and his 3 daughters

Former UCLA football coach Terry Donahue who later served as the general manager of the NFL's San Francisco 49'ers, died on Sunday, July 4, aged 77. UCLA Bruins announced the news of their mentor's death on their website stating, "Terry Donahue, the winningest coach in Pacific-12 Conference and UCLA football history, passed away on Sunday evening, July 4, at his home in Newport Beach, Calif." Donahue was surrounded by family and passed away peacefully following a two-year battle with cancer. 

Donahue devoted the majority of his adult life to UCLA - first as a student-athlete, then an assistant coach for the Bruins under the guidance of Pepper Rodgers and dick Vermeil. He then went ahead to take full control of the team by signing on as the head coach at the age of 31 in 1976. He was the first person to appear in a Rose Bowl Game as a player, assistant coach and head coach. It's not just his family that mourns his death, Donahue was loved by the people he was acquainted with and Twitter is flooded with tributes for the coaching legend. 

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Who is Terry Donahue's wife Andrea?

Donahue was married to Andrea for the past 52 years. The couple had three daughters - Nicole, Michele and Jennifer. All three of them are married and Donahue and Andrea have 10 grandchildren. The couple also established the 'Andrea and Terry Donahue Football Grant-in-Aid' which grants student-athletes on the UCLA Men's Football Team under the direction of the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The next grant is about to be awarded on November 3, 2022. 

Donahue held the record for having the most wins among any coach in Pac-12 history and the most wins in UCLA history, according to a report. Donahue was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000, three years after he was welcomed into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. In 2001, he joined the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2013, the press box at the Rose Bowl was officially dedicated as the Terry Donahue Pavilion. ESPN named Donahue one of the 150 Greatest College Coaches in 2019 as part of the celebration of college football's 150th anniversary.  

'Great football coach and even better person'

"RIP Terry Donahue, from a USC alum. Great Bruin football coach," wrote a Twitter user. "Saddened to learn of fellow UCLA Bruin Coach Terry Donahue's passing. Was happy to meet him on several occasions, a warm, fine man. Thanks Coach, RIP Terry. #UCLA" read another tweet. "RIP Terry Donahue. A great coach and even better person!" read another tweet.

"Rest in Power Terry Donahue The man I watched growing up lead my @UCLAFootball Team to so many great Rose Bowl Game wins & battles with rival USC. To the @pac12 & UCLA Football Winninest Head-Coach Rest in Peace #RipTerryDonahue" another tweet read. "Sorry to hear of the passing of longtime UCLA football coach Terry Donahue, who was well-liked by many. Donahue had local ties as he attended Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. His father was also a doctor at St. Joseph Medical Center," read another tweet.