Former Carolina Panthers assistant coach and Wake Forest football standout Warren Belin died at the age of 58 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a May 5 statement.
Belin coached the Panthers for two seasons from 2011 to 2012, leaving a mark on several notable players. He spent more than three decades coaching football, most recently serving as an assistant at Howard University through the end of the 2024 season.
His influence extended beyond football. Former player Thomas Davis said, “Coach Warren Belin was more than just a coach — he was a man of character, faith, and unwavering strength. In a world where it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters, he stood firm in his beliefs, leading not just with words, but with example. He never needed to raise his voice or use harsh language to earn respect; he commanded it through the way he carried himself and the way he treated each of us — not just as players, but as young men.” Davis also reflected on Belin’s dedication to family: “Coach Belin was also a devoted husband to Ms. Yolanda and a loving father to his three daughters… Even while carrying the weight of personal loss — after his own brother battled and passed from cancer during our time with him — Coach never wavered. And when cancer came for him, he faced it the same way he faced everything else: like a true warrior.”
Linebacker Jon Beason remembered him by saying: “Though only for a short time, Coach Belin’s impact on my life was felt immediately… Always professional in every detail, and at his core, he was a man of God and family! In that order… Though injuries cut our football relationship short… That’s when you’re truly a team, a family, a brotherhood! I’m grateful to his parents for raising an amazing man who I’m sure influenced hundreds throughout his career! Coach B will be missed. He’s a great example of what the world should be.” Luke Kuechly added: “Warren Belin was my first linebacker coach in the NFL. He was kind, patient, and his love of the game was obvious to see… However, the game never came in the way of his family. They were his rock… We will miss Coach B certainly as a coach but ultimately [for] the man he was and what he stood for.”
The Carolina Panthers have secured multiple division titles and playoff appearances while supporting community outreach efforts across North and South Carolina; they play home games in downtown Charlotte,according to their official website.
Belin is remembered by former colleagues as someone whose impact went far beyond sports—a mentor whose lessons about discipline and integrity left lasting impressions.
