LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It was 1993, and Trinity High School football coach Dennis Lampley was out on the old Cardinal Stadium sidelines watching warmups before the Shamrocks faced rival St. Xavier when one of his own players crashed into him and separated his shoulder.

Medical professionals took Lampley back to an ambulance and wanted to take him to the hospital for treatment. He wouldn't go. A team trainer put his shoulder back into it socket. He watched the game from a golf cart on the sidelines. St. X won the game, 9-6, but more memorable was Lampley's presence that night.

"They need to see you," Lampley said after the game, talking about his players. "Whether it hurts or not, they need to know you're there."

That has been true for generations of men who played for or knew Lampley during his 47-year Hall of Fame career. They knew he was there. One of them, in fact, Jody Demling, was there to get that quote from Lampley and share it in The Courier-Journal. Today, those players and many others are hurting. On Tuesday night, Lampley died at the age of 80 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Lampley was head coach at Trinity for 19 years and won five state championships as head football coach. He was part of three more as defensive coordinator. He built a career record of 138-21, including a state-record 50-game winning streak from 1988-91, and in 1990 was named National Coach of the Year. He was Kentucky Coach of the Year three times.

He was voted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. After his coaching career, he remained at Trinity as athletic director for another 15 years, helping to extend the school's championship tradition. He also served on the board of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The basketball court at Trinity bears his name.

He was voted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. After his coaching career, he remained at Trinity as athletic director for another 15 years, helping to extend the school's championship tradition.

"Lost my best friend and the greatest man I've ever known last night after a long battle with Alzheimer's," Lampley's son, Brad, posted to social media Tuesday morning. "Dad impacted generations of young men at Trinity, with an influence that far overshadowed his Hall of Fame career. I pray that I can be half the man and father that he was."

Lampley was among those Jeff Brohm honored the day he was named University of Louisville football coach. Lampley coached Jeff and Greg Brohm at Trinity.

"My high school coach is probably the best mentor that I've had my entire career," Jeff Brohm said that day. "He's in our front row right here. Dennis Lampley and his family. I got the opportunity to play in the NFL for seven-plus years and be around a lot of great coaches and players. In my opinion, Dennis Lampley is the best and I learned a great deal from him."

Brohm spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon to remember the life of Lampley. In a post to social media Wednesday morning, he said, "He was a true giant at Trinity and in coaching -- and while our sport was football, the game he coached was life. We had a special bond, and I leaned on him often for wisdom and advice. He was a tremendous leader and motivator and could inspire anyone to be their best at whatever endeavor they pursued. He was my friend, and so important to our family."

Lampley is survived by his wife Brenda, son Brad and daughter Brandee.

This story will be updated.

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