Close friends and coworkers suspect Jim Dostal committed suicide. The football coach was 59 years old when he died. Jim Dostal, a well-known public personality in Cedar Rapids, was inducted into the Coe College Hall of Fame in 2003. During his tenure at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, he was an all-metro and all-conference running back.
He went on to play collegiate football and eventually coached at Coe, Prairie, and Jefferson. In 1992, Dostal guided the J-Hawks to a Class 4A State Playoff semi-final. In 2012, the football coach earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Iowa. Cedar Rapids residents have verified the reason for his death, albeit no official announcement has been issued.
Jim Dostal Obituary And Cause Of Death
Jim Dostal, the veteran Cedar Rapids football coach, died at 59 in Cedar Rapids. The official reason for his death has not yet been published. However, social media claims that the football coach committed suicide. The Gazette reported on January 3 that a guy was discovered deceased near Taft Middle School on Wednesday morning.
At 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, first responders were summoned to the middle school for a report of an unresponsive adult man. The individual was pronounced dead by medical staff. Taft Principal Gary Hatfield released an email to parents in which he said that no Taft students or personnel were involved in the medical emergency. The whole email was eventually shared to the Cedar Rapids community subreddit. The email said that since it is a small town, someone at the school knew the guy and that the news would touch others.
Many people verified in the comments section that the guy was former football coach Jim Dostal. However, several critics in the comments section legitimately questioned the source. One user stated that they informed instructors at Prairie and Jefferson about the tragedy after the school day. Another user said that people close to the issue (Jefferson, Prairie, and Taft) verified the death was a suicide.
Football Coach Tributes Flood In
Mark Bliss, a longtime friend and the former head coach of Cedar Rapids Prairie High School made a statement on X, announcing Jim’s death. “Today I share news of the passing of my closest friend Jim Dostal,” he said with a picture of Jim. I know that having you in their life benefitted 1000 players and students. I shall treasure our 29-year friendship and fraternity. “I love and miss you, brother.” According to The Gazette, the two became fast friends after meeting at a bowling match in Australia.
Mark also told The Gazette that he arrived in Cedar Rapids after Jim persuaded him to accept the position. One of Jim’s pupils also left a kind message for the coach on his Facebook page. Saif Alsafi, class of 2010, Jefferson High School, recalled Jim directing the graduation rehearsal. The Jefferson Football X page also issued a comment. “Today we were shocked by the passing of Dr./Coach Jim Dostal,” they stated. Coach was a fixture in our Westside community as a former student/athlete/grad, excellent educator, and fantastic coach! His death is a direct hit to the community’s heart. Coach, rest in peace.”
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