 Sutherland, who was described as "a national hero" in a "Saturday Evening Post" article, was perhaps the most highly admired and influential coach in the history of the university.Following his years at Pitt he never coached again in college and moved on to a career in the NFL including a head coaching stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers before his untimely death in 1948 of a brain tumor.During his 15-year tenure at the university, the longest of any football coach at Pitt, he compiled a record of 111–20–12 which included 79 shutouts.