Trainer, football star Junior Coffey dies at 79

Trainer Junior Coffey, an icon in the Seattle sports world, died from congestive heart failure Monday.

Prior to becoming a successful trainer at Longacres and Emerald, he was a star running back at the University of Washington where he led the Huskies in rushing in 1962 and 1964. In his first year in the National Football League, he was on the 1965 Green Bay Packers team that won the NFL championship for legendary coach Vince Lombardi. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants.

Coffey began training horses in the mid 1970s and ranks fifth in all-time win percentage at Emerald at 20.13 percent.

One of the horses he trained for Emerald founder Ron Crockett was 2012 Belle Roberts winner Cielator.

“Junior Coffey was one of a kind in so many ways,” Crockett said. “He was an accomplished athlete, a talented horse trainer, a philosopher, a friend to many, and most of all kindhearted. He was a trailblazer.”

Coffey won 174 races at Emerald, including eight stakes races.

He was 79 years old and is survived by his wife, Kathy. Funeral arrangements are pending.