Legendary faculty baseball coach Wayne Graham died on Tuesday in Austin, Texas, Rice College introduced Wednesday.
He was 88.
Graham led the Owls baseball program for 27 seasons, taking them to the Faculty World Collection seven instances, main them to a nationwide title in 2003.
Underneath Graham’s management, the baseball workforce made 21 convention championships.
“What Coach Graham achieved throughout his time at Rice is actually outstanding,” Rice Vice President and Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland mentioned in an announcement. “He constructed a program that served because the envy of faculty baseball for practically three many years. I’m grateful I used to be in a position to spend time with him final fall and thank him for all he had performed for Rice baseball and our College. He set the usual for excellence inside our athletics applications and his legacy won’t ever be forgotten.”
Over his practically 30 years with the Rice baseball program, he complied a 1,173–528–2 file after taking on this system in 1992. He retired in 2018.
“With deep sorrow and immense gratitude, we honor and keep in mind Coach Graham whose management introduced nationwide acclaim to the Rice baseball program and impressed a technology of student-athletes, alumni, and followers,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches mentioned in an announcement. “A Corridor of Famer and true legend, his legacy lives on by the numerous student-athletes he impacted. On behalf of the Rice household, we lengthen our deepest condolences to his family members, former gamers, and all who have been touched by his extraordinary life.”
Graham helped mould 5 nationwide gamers of the yr, eight first-team All-People, seven convention gamers of the yr, six convention pitchers of the yr and 19 first-round draft picks, in line with the college.
The coach had performed faculty basketball on the College of Texas and performed 11 seasons of professional baseball with the Phillies and Mets organizations.