FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Friday, March 16, 2007)
 

LONG-TIME WESLEYAN COACH NORM DANIELS TURNS 100 ON MARCH 25
(University to Hold Special Celebration on Campus Thursday, April 5)

        Norm Daniels, born March 25, 1907 in Detroit, Mich., came to Wesleyan University as an instructor in physical education in 1934.  By the time he retired as a full professor following the spring baseball season in 1973, Norm had been head coach of five different sports including one season (1946-47) when he consecutively coached the football team to an undefeated 7-0 mark, the men's basketball team to a 9-5 record and the baseball squad to a 4-12 posting.
      Coming to Wesleyan from Hillsdale, Mich. where he had been coaching and teaching in the local secondary school following his graduation from the University of Michigan in 1932, Norm first coached the Wesleyan wrestling squad, a position he held for nine campaigns.  Despite lettering nine times in a Wolverine uniform with informal All-America honors in football as a receiver and defensive back, all-Big Ten and All-America honors in basketball and starting duties at second base in baseball, Norm had not wrestled in college.  He added varsity baseball coach to his repertoire in the spring of 1941, beginning his longest-standing assignment which covered 33 seasons and a cumulative 253-261-6 record.  A three-year stint as men's basketball coach (1944-47) was overlapped by the introduction of head football coach to his resume in 1945.  He handled the gridmen for 19 seasons with a record of 76-61-10, and directed the squad to its team-record 25-game win streak from 1945 through 1948.  That streak was incorporated into a 28-game unbeaten string which started with the last game of 1942 and carried through 1948. Add to that two seasons as men's squash mentor (1948-50) and a handful of additional duties with freshman squads and a brief stint as chairman of the department of physical education, and you have a very full plate for the 39-year veteran Cardinal coach.  Norm was elevated to assistant professor in 1941, the same year he earned his M.A. from Michigan; associate professor in 1947; and professor in 1948. 
  Among all individuals ever to coach at Wesleyan University since its inception as an institution of higher education in 1831, Norm Daniels ranks third in longevity, behind only Hugh McCurdy who served the Red & Black for 46 years (1922-1968), and Fritz Martin who was on board for 43 years (1920-1963).  Only five others have made it to the 30-year mark, most recently Don Long and Dave Snyder, both of whom retired in 2003 with 38 and 33 years of service under their respective belts.  Current Athletics Director John Biddiscombe has been a member of the department since 1974, putting him at 33 years.  Herb Kenny (31 years) and Elmer Swanson (30 years) are the remaining two.  Gale Lackey, Associate Athletics Director and head women's volleyball coach, will be next and the first woman on the list as she completes her 29th year in 2007.
       While at Wesleyan, Norm was consistently active in the local community as a part of numerous organizations, committees and associations around Middletown including a three-year term on the Middletown City Council.  He remained in Middletown after his retirement and still maintains his residence in the City.
    While his family will celebrate his 100th birthday with him privately on March 25, the University has planned a special celebration to be held in Wesleyan's Freeman Athletic Center on Thursday, April 5, beginning at noon.  At that time, current faculty and staff members at the college, past players under Norm, representatives from the City of Middletown and other invited well-wishers will have a chance to join Norm on this unique occasion.