Longtime Utah State football assistant equipment manager Steve Wiley died Friday, the university announced. He was 67.
“The Utah State Athletics Family is shocked and saddened at the passing of Steve Wiley,” USU athletic director John Hartwell said in a news release. “He has been a positive fixture of Aggie football and Aggie athletics for many years. Steve’s legacy and influence will forever be etched in Aggie Athletics. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
Known as the “Night Runner,” Wiley drove Utah State’s football equipment all over the nation for nearly 20 years. His first trip was to New Mexico State on Oct. 21, 1995. His last road trip driving the equipment was in 2013, but he continued to travel on USU road trips and help haul the Aggies' gear into this season.
Wiley drove approximately 150,000 miles on more than 100 road trips and volunteered his own personal vehicles. ESPN recently wrote a profile on Wiley just before the New Mexico Bowl.
After retiring as a machinist, Wiley spent the last six-plus years as Utah State Athletics’ assistant equipment manager.
Born on Dec. 22, 1950, the Vietnam veteran was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor. For the past three seasons, the Aggies football team has taken the field prior to every game with both a Utah and American flag. It was Wiley’s job to hand the American flag to the player that carried it for that game.
Another game-day ritual Wiley enjoyed was handing the players and other staff members their post-game meal.
