Florida State's Phil Cofer (0) sits on the bench with a boot on his right foot during the second half of a first round men's college basketball game against Vermont in the NCAA tournament ...

After Florida State’s first-round victory Thursday, Phil Cofer received a call in the locker room, alerting him that his father, a longtime NFL linebacker with the Detroit Lions, had died at age 58.

Florida State’s Phil Cofer found out his father passed away from a long illness after the Seminoles defeated Vermont in the NCAA Tournament West Region first-round game.

Mike Cofer played for the Lions from 1983-92. The Lions drafted him in the third round out of Tennessee. Credit: AP Florida State's Phil Cofer (0) sits on the bench with a boot on his right foot ...

Florida State's Phil Cofer (0) sits on the bench with a boot on his right foot during the second half of a first round men's college basketball game against Vermont in the NCAA tournament ...