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Ben Hurt Obituary
Murfreesboro - Ben N. Hurt, age 84 of Murfreesboro, Tennessee passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017.
He was a 1957 graduate of MTSU where he was captain of the 1956 football team. His love of football led him to coach in the Texas High School Football system until accepting a coaching position at The University of Houston in 1965. In 1972 he served as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M University until returning to his alma mater in 1975 serving as the MTSU head coach from 1975-1978. He returned to coach at the University of Houston until his retirement in 1996.
A man of honor, he always expected the best from the young men he coached just as he did from himself. He never met a stranger and his lifelong relationships to his athletes and friends are a testament to his love for them.
Born in Nashville, he was a son of the late Robert N. and Oda Jackson Hurt. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Joan Hurt; sons, Ross Hurt and wife Lori of Thompson's Station, TN, and Greg Hurt of Murfreesboro; grandsons, Dylan and Corey Hurt; a brother, John Hurt of Nashville; and a sister, Peggy Stewart of Murfreesboro.
Visitation will be Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until the time of memorial services beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.
An online guestbook is available for the Hurt family at www.woodfinchapel.com.
Memorials may be made in memory of Coach Hurt to the Blue Raider Athletic Association at Middle Tennessee State University, MTSU Box 576, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Jimmie Sanders
November 8, 2022
Thank God For the Man of God.
Jerry Drones
December 4, 2017
To Mrs. Hurt and family. I want you to know I am very sorry for your loss. I am Jerry Drones. My nickname is Snake. I am a former player of Coach at Houston. I did not know about him passing until the Friday after Thanksgiving. I had tried to text him on thanksgiving. He was a great coach and man. I will miss him.
Mary Ann (Hammond) Weinacht
November 19, 2017
Joan,
It's been 53 years since we parted ways in Orange, TX, but I've thought of you, Ben, and the boys many times. Thanks for all the happy memories. I'll be thinking of you during these difficult days.
Mary Ann (Hammond) Weinacht
Alpine, Texas
Corky Rollings
November 16, 2017
Ben was a good friend. He came onece a month to the many different schools I work from Houston to visit with me my many years as an athletic trainer. We stayed friends when I moved down to Houston. He touched a lot of lives.
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Wade Phillips
November 15, 2017
Coach Hurt was a great coach -- i learned so much football and life lessons from him. He was also a great husband father and role model. Love you and miss you but will always remember how you touched my life. Wade Phillips
Norman Adams
November 15, 2017
Coach Hurt recruited me to UH and I had the honor of knowing him for many years. He was a man of character. This world is a lessor place without him. Blessings and strength to his family in their time of sorrow... Condolences
Lance Hale
November 15, 2017
Ben was a good friend. He came onece a month to Lufkin Texas from Houston to visit with me my first year as an athletic trainer. We stayed friends when I moved down to Houston. He touched a lot of lives.
Sammy James
November 14, 2017
My condolences to the Hurt family for your loss. Coach Hurt was my defensive line coach at the University of Houston and I
learned so much from him, not only as a player but as a man. I pray for peace and strength for your family during this difficult time. God bless you all !!!
Russ DeVillier
November 14, 2017
Ben Hurt. What a man! Always the optimist, always the encourager, always lifting the spirits of his players and fellow coaches. Ben Hurt made Nederland, Tx., Nederland High and a band of Bulldogs better because he came our way. So lucky for being a friend of Ben and his precious Joan.
John Diefenbach
November 14, 2017
You will always live in our hearts and prayers. We will miss coach Hurt he touched so many of our lives. It was a privilege and honor to play for coach Hurt at MTSU from 1975 to 1978. I will always remember his big smile while twirling his whistle 100 mph giving each player a pep talk during practice warm ups.
John Diefenbach
November 14, 2017
You will always live in our hearts and prayers. We will miss coach Hurt he touched so many of our lives. It was a privilege and honor to play for coach Hurt at MTSU from 1975 to 1978. I will always remember his big smile while twirling his whistle 100 mph
giving each player a pep talk during practice warm ups.
Steve Goodner
November 14, 2017
Coach thanks for the life lessons you taught me and thanks for all the love you always showed to me and my family. I was always so proud to have you as my uncle.
Barry Minatra
November 14, 2017
Coach Hurt,
Attitude is everything! I'll never forget what you taught us. In large measure, you were most influential in getting me to where I am today. Never quit, never give up! Keep your motor hummin' and I did. You gave a kid from Pulaski a chance to walk on and be something, just like you did so many years ago! Coach, go rest high on that mountain, but keep your motor hummin'.
We'll keep you in our hearts and our prayers, and huddle up on the high ground when the time comes. Rest in peace.
- Tree (1975-1978 MTSU Blue Raiders LB #29)
Jimmie Sanders
November 14, 2017
Yes, he was man of honor. I so glad he was a part of my life. I have so many memories of my time playing for him at MTSU. Thank you Coach for opening up new doors in life for me. Thank you also for let me be a Blue Raider for Life.
Jimmie Sanders "MTSU 75"
Ron Calcagni
November 14, 2017
Ben was truly a friend to everyone, I am so glad our paths crossed at the University of Houston.
Coach was a mentor to a lot of us. Always thinking out of the box in recruiting. Coach always thought of others always. I remember when he would sit at our staff meetings, he be writing recruiting letters. Ben would always write to Ms Inis... Ben would say family is so important to me and How much he loved his family...
May my buddy Rest In Peace
Ron Calcagni
They will walk if you let them... Ben saying
November 14, 2017
Coach Hurt recruited me to play football at Univ of Hou. in 1971 . His enthusiasm was over powering and you wanted to be on his team. I have very fond memories of him "getting fired up" . RIP COACH Robert Giblin
Ronald Marshall
November 14, 2017
Coach Hurt was a fine man and Coach. I have many fond memories of playing for him at Middle Tennessee State University. He cared about his athletes as people not just players. Thank you for letting me be a Blue Raider.
Eugenie Decker
November 14, 2017
Ross, I am sorry to hear of your loss. My many thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Your father sounds like he was a wonderful man and will be missed by many.
Coach John Jenkins
November 14, 2017
To my long time buddy , Ben One Of the very best competitive coaches and recruiters that the world of college football has ever known . A man of great integrity and honor who truly regarded all of our players just like one of his natural family . Thanks so much for being at my side always as we fought it out against the opposition . I will continue to carry your sincere loyalty and love with me my remaining days on this earth . I will now miss our visits and many conversations , but I am so happy that Heaven has gained a new wonderful coach who always cared deeply about our players . I will always think of you often and we will join up again one day .
All my love to you , Sweet Joan and all of your family
Your Pal
Coach John Jenkins
Annette Douthat
November 13, 2017
Ross, so sorry for your loss. I can see that you were a chip off the old block!
Sharon Ford
November 13, 2017
To my Uncle Ben, Your smile will be missed, your stories of growing up, but most of all the love you shared to all of us. We all will miss you, but I know in time, we all will see our families again. To Aunt Joan, Ross and Greg, our prayers are with you and we all love you and I know Uncle Ben had a wonderful life.
Love, Sharon Ford and her family
Rhonda Weldon
November 13, 2017
My mother was Ada Beatrice Chrisman One of his sisters... I know as a young girl mom loved him dearly and I pray they meet again in heaven. Although I wasn't a big part of bens life I do remember my mother saying she was going to name me Ben if I had been a boy. I pray for u and all your family in this difficult time. But he touched a lot of hearts in his life. Even people that he didn't even know. R.i.p uncle Ben
Rob Baldwin
November 13, 2017
Thanks for the opportunity to be a Blue Raider coach. Many fond memories of you and the family, give dad a high five while y'all watch film tonight. Now your Moters Hummin full throttle again.
Cindy Hogan
November 13, 2017
Ross,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this challenging time. It is never easy to lose a parent. Your dad sounds like a wonderful man. I wish I could have met him. I will be thinking of you this week.
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1488 Lascassas Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
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