Mountain Brook head football coach Chris Yeager called Mike Thorsen “a man for the ages.”

Thorsen, who spent 25 years as a Spartan assistant coach, died Tuesday night, the school announced on social media.

The former Marine retired this spring after a 51-year coaching career.

“Mike Thorsen, you were a man for the ages,” Yeager wrote on the social media platform “X.” “You transformed boys to men, mentored coaches and loved the Mountain Brook Spartans. It was a great honor to share the sidelines and life with you for 25 years. Your absence hurts our hearts. You will always be a great part of who we are.”

Thompson head coach Mark Freeman also reacted to Thorsen’s death on social media.

“RIP COACH! One of the best! Will be missed by so many! Thankful we got to play golf and coach against each other,” he wrote. “You touched many ole Crusty!! Prayers up to family and everyone at Mt Brook.”

Thorsen spent time at Hoover before joining the Mountain Brook staff, including a one-year stint as the Bucs head coach in 1994 after the death of longtime coach Bob Finley.

In an interview on the “Spartan Culture” podcast this spring, Thorsen talked about his decision to step away from coaching.

“I am going to miss it,” he said. “No doubt about it. I was always taught back in the day that if you were going to do something, do it right and I loved coaching. I loved being out there.”

Yeager said on the podcast he at least partially credited Thorsen with the Mountain Brook culture of toughness, discipline and fearlessness.

“You are the ripper of all rippers, but they (the players) take it as a badge of honor,” Yeager said.

“I learned a long time ago if you are going to rip a kid and you are going to get onto his butt because I want him to do the best he can do, then before they get into the car and go home, you have to put your arm around them,” Thorsen said.

This post will be updated