Columbia, SC (WLTX) --- Former USC head football coach and athletics director Jim Carlen passed away this past weekend at the age of 79.

One former Gamecock who played in the late 1940's is Pat Vella who owns a restaurant in Cayce. Vella says when Carlen was the head coach, it was not uncommon for the coach to stop in and mingle with the patrons.

Vella also said more than one of Carlen's recruits enjoyed a meal at his business including one prospect who went on to become USC's only Heisman Trophy winner.

Carlen was USC's head coach from 1975-1981 and up until this past season, he was the second-winningest coach at USC behind Rex Enright.