Former Wyoming Cowboys Quarterback Tom Corontzos, a Program Legend, Has Died

Tom Corontzos, a Great Falls, Montana native who spent four years under center at War Memorial Stadium and left Laramie as the second-most prolific passer in Cowboys history, has died. He played quarterback for the University of Wyoming from 1988 to 1991.

Over his collegiate career, Corontzos completed 579 of 1,066 pass attempts for 7,945 yards and 48 touchdowns, adding nine rushing touchdowns. When he departed, only one Cowboy had thrown for more yards. He has since moved to third on the all-time UW list, behind Casey Bramlet's program-record 9,684 yards and Brett Smith's 8,834, but still ranks fourth in career completions, attempts, and touchdown passes. His two most productive seasons remain in the Wyoming record books: the 2,956 yards he threw for in 1990 rank ninth all-time at UW, and the 2,868 yards he produced in 1991 rank tenth.

Corontzos arrived in Laramie in 1988, the year Wyoming claimed its second consecutive Western Athletic Conference title under head coach Paul Roach. He played behind Randy Welniak that season, watching as Welniak threw for 2,791 yards and 21 touchdowns in the championship run. Joe Tiller served as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator that year, and his spread-oriented system laid the foundation for the passing production Corontzos would build on. When Tiller returned as head coach in 1991, it was Corontzos leading the offense.

His most-cited moment in a Wyoming uniform came January 1, 1991, in Tucson. Wyoming faced California in the Copper Bowl, and Corontzos was sacked seven times by the Golden Bears' defense. The most consequential came with 49 seconds remaining: Cal tackle Joel Dickson sacked Corontzos on a 2-point conversion attempt, sealing California's 17-15 victory and the program's first postseason win since 1938.

The senior season that followed was arguably his best. Through mid-season 1991, Corontzos completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,527 yards and 10 touchdowns, stringing together 91 consecutive attempts without an interception. He finished the year with 2,868 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions.

Wyoming fans have long placed Corontzos among the program's elite quarterbacks, alongside Bramlet, Josh Wallwork, and Welniak. In a program that now lists two passers above 8,000 career yards, Corontzos's 7,945 took nearly three decades to fall from second place. His record stood long enough to define an era at War Memorial Stadium.