Former FAMU Baseball Coach Joe Durant died Saturday after a long battle with leukemia. He was 72 -years.
Durant was the longest-tenured and winningest baseball coaches in history, with 363 wins in 17 seasons. Durant took over for the Rattlers in 1991, his team won 29 games and the MEAC Championship. Durant’s teams won three MEAC Championships in his first four seasons at the helm (1991, 1992, 1994).
Durant led the Rattlers to 12 20+ win seasons, including two 29-win seasons (1991 and
2003). He was voted into the FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008
Durant was the longest-tenured and winningest baseball coaches in history, with 363 wins in 17 seasons. Durant took over for the Rattlers in 1991, his team won 29 games and the MEAC Championship. Durant’s teams won three MEAC Championships in his first four seasons at the helm (1991, 1992, 1994).
Durant led the Rattlers to 12 20+ win seasons, including two 29-win seasons (1991 and
2003). He was voted into the FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008
Durant coached Atlanta Braves great Marquis Grissom, who is considered one of the greatest players to ever don the Orange and Green. Grissom went on to win multiple MLB Golden Gloves and made several All-Star appearances.
Before becoming the manager at Florida A&M, Durant played for Coach Costa "Pop" Kittles and with MLB Hall of Famer Andre "Hawk" Dawson in the early '70s. Durant was the first African-American to serve on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee from 1999-2002.
Brett Richardson played for Durant in the early 1990s and later coached with him, describing Durant as a father figure after his father passed in 2000. Richardson said Durant was a knowledgeable coach that stressed preparation and fundamentals.
"He was one of those coaches who didn't say much during a game – unless he had to," said Richardson, the former FAMU and Alcorn head coach who returned this season as an assistant. "He wanted guys to relax and go out and play and not worry about looking over their shoulders. He's just a great guy who is going to be sorely, sorely missed."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Before becoming the manager at Florida A&M, Durant played for Coach Costa "Pop" Kittles and with MLB Hall of Famer Andre "Hawk" Dawson in the early '70s. Durant was the first African-American to serve on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee from 1999-2002.
Brett Richardson played for Durant in the early 1990s and later coached with him, describing Durant as a father figure after his father passed in 2000. Richardson said Durant was a knowledgeable coach that stressed preparation and fundamentals.
"He was one of those coaches who didn't say much during a game – unless he had to," said Richardson, the former FAMU and Alcorn head coach who returned this season as an assistant. "He wanted guys to relax and go out and play and not worry about looking over their shoulders. He's just a great guy who is going to be sorely, sorely missed."
Funeral arrangements are pending.