Former Dallas Cowboys lineman Char-ron Dorsey dies at 46 following complications from a stroke as tributes pour in for the high-school coach: 'A great example as a man'

Former Dallas Cowboys lineman Char-ron Dorsey died on Monday at the age of 46 following complications from a stroke.

The Jacksonville Florida Times-Union were first to report news of Dorsey's passing, which comes just over 10 years since his NFL career came to an end.

As well as spending a year with the Cowboys, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville-born man also won a national title in his days at Florida State University.

After retiring as a player, he then went on to enjoy a long career as a youth coach.

'Just at a loss for words thinking about my brother,' said Parker High School coach Mike Holloway, who worked under Dorsey. 'We’ve been doing this for a very long time until now. We see kids that we’ve coached now are coaching or have kids themselves.

'We built a legacy on hard work and doing it ourselves, letting kids know through hard work and dedication you can make it and be successful.'

Former Dallas Cowboys lineman Char-ron Dorsey died on Monday at the age of 46

Dorsey, who enjoyed a long career as a youth coach following his retirement, is said to have suffered complications from a stroke

Dorsey first showcased his potential at Florida's Bolles School, where he received First-Team 4A All-State honors three times as a defensive tackle. 

He then went on to play for Florida State, with the tackle a key member of their undefeated national championship-winning team in 1999.

After being drafted by Dallas two years later, Dorsey played nine games in his rookie season before being waived early in the 2002 season and picked up by the Houston Texans, where he only featured three times in his debut campaign.

The former Florida State star was later released after being declared inactive in five games and went on to sign as a free agent for the New York Giants, only for his career to be brought to an end by knee surgery.

Dorsey then began coaching on Jacksonville's east side before building a dynasty at Matthew Gilbert Middle School, going 87-5 over 10 seasons and winning three championships.

He later went on to enjoy coaching stints in the high-school ranks at Jackson and Parker, leaving the latter job last summer.

'He cared for the kids. The kids were his main priority. He fought for them tooth and nail. He was a great example as a man. He could relate to the kids,' said Parker Athletic Director Brad Bernard. 'No kid could come to him and tell him something that he didn’t understand. He could relate to them. I think he saved some kids.

'If a kid came up to him and said they were going through hard times, he encouraged them to fight through it because he went through it.'