Herman Boone, the title-winning, tough-as-nails Virginia high school football coach, portrayed by Denzel Washington in the 2000 biopic "Remember the Titans," died Wednesday.
Boone was 84 years old. No cause of death was revealed, reported Washington-area outlet WPGC News.
He assumed the football head coach position at Virginia's T.C. Williams High School in 1971 _ the year Alexandria city's high schools were integrated, according to USA Today.
"It is with great sadness that we share the sad news of the passing of former head football coach Herman Boone," wrote the T.C. Williams High School Football Boosters in a Wednesday tweet.
During his first year at the helm, his Titans amassed a perfect 13-0 record en route to a state championship.
"We are truly saddened to hear of the death of Coach Herman Boone today," stated the Alexandria City Public Schools in a Twitter post. "(The district) and (high school) community will never forget his contribution to bringing our city together post-segregation."
Boone was fired in 1979 amid allegations of verbally and physically abusing his players, reported The Washington Post. The previous year, three of Boone's assistant coaches threatened to step down unless Boone was removed as head coach.
One of those coaches, Bill Yoast _ portrayed by Will Patton in "Remember the Titans" _ who assisted Boone during the 1971 championship season, died in May at the age of 94.
