Joseph C. Duff

Joseph C. Duff was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 1998.

A 1950 graduate of the WVU School of Physical Education, Duff was a standout in both baseball and basketball, helping lead the 1947 basketball team to a 19-3 record and a fourth-place finish in the National Invitation Tournament. He set a school record for free-throw percentage in a season (since broken) and was the first recipient of the Roger L. Hicks Memorial Trophy as WVU’s outstanding student-athlete.

During World War II, Duff served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a radio operator for an artillery observer on Peleliu. After the war, he began a coaching and teaching career that spanned more than four decades, including 40 years at the U.S. Naval Academy. There, he served as head baseball coach, assistant basketball coach, and professor of physical education. His baseball teams earned multiple league titles and totaled 595 wins, with a .630 winning percentage. He was known for emphasizing mental discipline, strategy, and leadership, shaping future military leaders, professional athletes, and public servants.

Following retirement in 1993, Duff remained active in the sport, volunteering at Catholic University, Prince George’s Community College, and St. Mary’s High School, where he helped launch the baseball program. He passed away in 2001 at age 78.