Joe Avezzano, who won three Super Bowl rings as a Dallas Cowboys special teams coach and was known for his engaging personality, died Thursday in Italy. He was 68.
Avezzano reportedly was working out on a treadmill when he suffered a heart attack. He was recently hired as the head coach of the Milano Seamen of the Italian Football League.
Avezzano was the Cowboys' special teams coach from 1990 through 2002. He was named the NFL's special teams coach of the year three times during that span but wasn't retained when Bill Parcells took over as coach in 2003.
Avezzano served as head coach of the Arena Football League's Dallas Desperados the next two seasons before a three-season stint as the Oakland Raiders' special teams coach.
Avezzano, who was Oregon State's coach from 1980 to 1984, remained a popular figure in Dallas-Fort Worth. He worked as a radio and TV analyst and owned Coach Joe's Hat Tricks, a bar and restaurant in suburban Lewisville.