LIVONIA, Mich. (WXYZ) — A legendary football coach who clinched the first championship for Livonia Franklin High School has died from the coronavirus.
Armand Vigna, 84, and his spouse Ruth Vigna, 83, succumbed to the virus within 12 hours of each other.
The couple was married 61 years and had four children and seven grandchildren.
Mourners paid tribute and remembered Vigna and his wife in a special tribute under the Friday night lights on the football field at the high school.
Vigna was known as an innovator who was one of the first high school coaches to bring analytics to the game.
The Patriots athletic director, Ron Hammye said he was more than just a coach for 40 years.
"He was truly a hero," said Hammye. "He was well-respected. He was active in the community. He was a father figure to those young players he had."
The coronavirus claimed Vigna's life on Tuesday and Hammye said his wife died within 12 hours.
She also played an integral role of shaping young people's lives in the community.
"She was the energy of the couple," said Patriots head coach Chris Kelvert. "She was very lively and energetic always happy always smiling."
Israel Woolfork, a wide receiver coach at Miami University Ohio and former player of Vigna paid tribute to him on Twitter.
Rip to Coach Armand Vigna & his wife Ruthie, I learned a lot from Coach Vigna, he made sure as a young player that I played the game the right way and didn’t accept any excuses. Thanks coach for the lessons you taught me on the field and also off the field . https://t.co/6elmO2sfhv
— Israel Woolfork (@IWMiamiFootball) April 29, 2020
Final arrangements were unavailable when this article this was written.
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