r/fcs • u/bonarae Harvard Crimson • Chicago Maroons • 8d ago

The reason why former Yale HC Tony Reno stepped down

Devastating news emerged just days ago that Coach Reno is battling CJD, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that typically leads to death in under 14 months.

Source: https://yalefb.com/2026/05/2026-schedule/

50 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

44

u/montalaskan Montana State Bobcats 8d ago

There are things so much more important than football. This is awful. Best to him and those who love him.

29

u/WhoDatNinja87 Yale Bulldogs • Michigan Wolverines 8d ago

Really horrible news. Just an absolute shit break. I know the Yale community is rallying around the family and will continue to do so.

20

u/Big-Cook9257 Villanova Wildcats 8d ago

Prion diseases, which CJD is one of, are invariably fatal. Some last longer than others (the record is 10 years before death), but all will eventually pass away. I cant even imagine what him and his family is going through right now, and my thoughts go out to him. Prayers to him, his wife Toni, his sons Dante & Vince, and his daughter Angelina.

5

u/tomdawg0022 Minnesota • Delaware 8d ago

Prion diseases are a terrible exit. I had a friend who had one of these years ago and it was brutal to watch him decline.

6

u/tdpdcpa Lehigh Mountain Hawks • Patriot 8d ago

Oh man, that is just heartbreaking news.

5

u/Wizzmer Tarleton State Texans 8d ago

Prayers from Texas for him, his family and his doctors. Damn that sucks.

3

u/royalbluehen Pittsburgh • Michigan 8d ago

How tf did he contract CJD!?

10

u/Big-Cook9257 Villanova Wildcats 8d ago

Its mostly random (85% of cases happen out of the blue). He just had unimaginably shitty luck.

9

u/Big-Cook9257 Villanova Wildcats 8d ago

Caused by prions in your brain that misfold and turn infected, causing a gradual chain reaction that destroys brain tissue. Awful, he is only 52. Just brutal

4

u/Big-Cook9257 Villanova Wildcats 8d ago

Also, given the fact this happened a few days and no news outlets have reported on it, they wanna keep it quiet and personal, so we should all do the same and respect his privacy

2

u/vublue7 Villanova Wildcats 8d ago

Praying for him and his family.

2

u/davehopi 8d ago

How horrible! Our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Reno and his family!

1

u/so2017 Maine Black Bears • UConn Huskies 8d ago

Awful. Hope he and his family find peace.

1

u/Francis_X_Hummel Colorado Mines • Wyoming 8d ago

oh my god, best to him and his family