Ex-Tigers coach Smith dies at 68

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Former Missouri football coach Larry Smith, who led the Tigers for seven seasons, died Monday at the age of 68 after a lengthy illness.

Smith, who also coached at Southern California, Tulane and Arizona, coached at Missouri from 1994 to 2000.

Smith's 1997 Missouri team went 7-5 and reached the Holiday Bowl, ending the Tigers' 13-year bowl drought. In 1998, the Tigers went 8-4 and won the Insight.com Bowl. It was the school's first bowl victory since 1981.

Smith compiled a 33-46-1 record at Missouri and was 143-126-7 overall.

Smith led USC to Rose Bowl appearances in his first three seasons. Overall he led 10 teams to bowl games, going 3-6-1.

Smith had been diagnosed with leukemia, the Tucson Citizen and the Arizona Daily Star reported on their Web sites. He died at a Tucson hospital.