NEWARK, Del.-- Martin T. “Marty” Pierson, a letterwinner for the University of Delaware football team in 1942 who later served as an assistant coach for the Blue Hens and led the team to its first national championship, passed away at the age of 87 on Monday, Feb. 23 at Christiana Hospital.

A native of Wilmington, Del. who most recently resided in Durham, N.C., Pierson attended the University of Delaware and earned a letter as a tackle for the 1942 team under head coach Bill Murray, leading the team to a perfect 8-0 record. The Blue Hens outscored opponents 196-28 and posted five shutouts.

He later attended Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute where he earned his degree and also played for the football team. He enlisted in the Navy and rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served in the Pacific during World War II.

Pierson returned to the University of Delaware to earn his master’s degree in civil engineering and first served as a graduate assistant with the Blue Hen football and baseball programs.

He served as an assistant coach for the UD football team under Murray at Delaware from 1946 until 1950, leading the Blue Hens to a five-year record of 29-13-1, including a perfect 10-0 mark in 1946 when Delaware captured the Associated Press Small College national championship.

When Murray left UD to take the head coaching position at Duke following the 1950 campaign, Pierson followed and served as an assistant to the eventual College Football Hall of Fame coach for 15 seasons.

Pierson later spearheaded support to produce a bust of Murray (at right) that was unveiled in 1996 and is located in the southwest corner of Delaware Stadium along with those of David Nelson and Tubby Raymond.

Services will be held this Saturday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. at Gracelawn Memorial Park in New Castle, Del.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the William D. Murray Scholarship, c/o University of Delaware Development Office, George Evans House, Newark, Del. 19716.