( CNN ) -- Leonard Skinner , the gym teacher who inspired the name of the legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd , has died . The band announced his death on its website , saying Skinner died in his sleep early Monday morning . He was 77 . `` Coach Skinner had such a profound impact on our youth that ultimately led us to naming the band , which you know as Lynyrd Skynyrd , after him , '' wrote Gary Rossington , guitarist and a founding member of the band . `` Looking back , I can not imagine it any other way . Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time . '' Band lore has it that Skinner was a coach and gym teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville , Florida -- and a stickler for the school 's policy against long hair . He reportedly sent several students to the principal 's office for violating the policy , including some who would go on to form an up-and-coming band with a tongue-in-cheek variation on his name . The band formed in the early 1970s and had a string of acclaimed songs , including `` Freebird '' and `` Sweet Home Alabama . '' In October 1977 , a plane crash in Mississippi killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant ; guitarist Steve Gaines ; Gaines 's sister , vocalist Cassie Gaines ; an assistant road manager ; and the pilot and copilot . But the band soldiered on , released more than 60 albums and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 .
Skinner , 77 , dies in his sleep , the band says . He was a stickler for the school 's policy against long hair . He reportedly sent several students to the principal 's office . Comment: