A young assistant coach in the Southern Illinois football program died in a single-vehicle accident earlier this week.
Cory Warren, 26, a resident of Marion, Illinois, died between the late hours Monday night and early Tuesday when his car struck a tree, went down an embankment and caught fire, police reported. His identity was confirmed Friday.
He had remained with the SIU program as an assistant coach after spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant in charge of outside linebackers under head coach Dale Lennon.
"It's certainly a sad day for everyone in the Saluki family," Lennon said. "Cory was a bright young coach with a great future ahead of him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, family and friends."
Warren was a linebacker at Kansas State in 2006 and '07 before a back injury ended his playing career. He then served as a student-assistant coach under head coach Bill Snyder from 2008-10. He coached the offensive line at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College in 2011.
Warren is survived his wife, Kris. They were married last year.
[SportsNetwork.com]
