Athletic Director Charles Krautz announced Tolley's selection appointment to the permanent head coaching position on December 1, 1969. His appointment was a unanimous recommendation by a special selection committee submitted to Donald Dedmon, executive vice president of the university, who made the final decision, in an absence of Roland Nelson, Marshall University president who was on vacation. Tolley was killed in the Marshall football plane crash on November 14, 1970 along with members of his coaching staff and 37 of his football players. In media Tolley is depicted in the movie We Are Marshall by actor Robert Patrick (uncredited). Patrick was 18 years older (when the movie was made) than Tolley (at death), causing Tolley to be portrayed in the film as middle-aged. Personal life Tolley was married to the former Mary Jane Edmundson of Charlottesville, Virginia from 1963 to his death. The couple had no children. Mary Jane Tolley later moved back to Virginia, where she taught English and creative writing for high school students. She never remarried, and is now retired and living an active life in Richmond. She can be seen in a final scene in the movie We Are Marshall with many people gathered around the university Memorial Water Fountain honoring and remembering the crash victims. Head coaching record References External links 1940 births 1970 deaths American football centers American football linebackers Furman Paladins football coaches Marshall Thundering Herd football coaches Virginia Cavaliers baseball coaches Virginia Tech Hokies football players Wake Forest Demon Deacons football coaches High school football coaches in Virginia Junior college football coaches in the United States People from McDowell County, West Virginia People from Mullens, West Virginia Players of American football from West Virginia Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Accidental deaths in West Virginia