Jim Duncan (defensive end) explained

Jim Duncan
Birth Date:2 May 1924
Birth Place:Reidsville, North Carolina U.S.
Death Place:Sunset Beach, North Carolina U.S.
Player Years1:1946
Player Team1:Duke
Player Years2:1947–1949
Player Team2:Wake Forest
Player Years3:1950–1955
Player Team3:New York Giants
Player Positions:Defensive end
Coach Years1:1959
Coach Team1:Appalachian State (assistant)
Coach Years2:1960–1964
Coach Team2:Appalachian State
Coach Years3:1965–1968
Coach Team3:Saskatchewan Roughriders (assistant)
Coach Years4:1969–1973
Coach Team4:Calgary Stampeders
Overall Record:31–15–2 (college)
39–40–1 (CFL)
Championships:Grey Cup (1971)
Awards:

James Hampton Duncan (May 2, 1924 – January 5, 2011) was an American football player and coach.

Early life and college career

Duncan played high school football at Reidsville High School in Reidsville, North Carolina.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, spending 15 months in Okinawa. Duncan played his first collegiate football season for the Duke Blue Devils under Wallace Wade in 1946. Duncan then spent three seasons as a standout defensive lineman for Peahead Walker's Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He was an All-Southern Conference player all three years at Wake Forest and was the team MVP in 1949.

Professional career

Duncan was a linebacker and defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1950 to 1955. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in both the 1948 and 1949 NFL drafts while also being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the ninth round of the 1950 NFL draft.[1] He was named Giants co-captain, along with Kyle Rote in 1954.

Coaching career

Duncan was the 13th head football coach at Appalachian State Teachers College—now known as Appalachian State University—located in the town of Boone, North Carolina, serving from 1960 to 1964.[2] He had a 31–15–2 as the Mountaineers head coach. On December 4, 1964, Duncan resigned as head football coach at Appalachian State.[3]

In 1965, Duncan joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an assistant under head coach Eagle Keys. He was with the team when they defeated the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 54th Grey Cup and when the team lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 55th Grey Cup.

Duncan became head coach of the Calgary Stampeders in 1969, replacing Jerry Williams who left the team to join the Philadelphia Eagles. Duncan's stint with the Stamps resulted in two Grey Cup appearances; one win (59th) and one loss (58th). Duncan was fired in 1973 after back to back 6–10 seasons. His overall record with Calgary was 39–40–1.

Duncan was later hired by a group from London, Ontario, who hoped to bring professional football to their city,[4] and later served as executive assistant of the Portland Storm of the World Football League (WFL).

Personal life

He was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.[5] [6]

Duncan died from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 2011 at the age of 86.

Head coaching record

CFL

Team Year Regular season Postseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWon Lost Result
CGY1969970.5632nd in West Division 11Lost West Final (SSK)
CGY1970970.5633rd in West Division 21Lost 58th Grey Cup (MTL)
CGY1971961.6621st in West Division 20Won 59th Grey Cup (TOR)
CGY6100.3754th in West Division - - Failed to Qualify
CGY19736100.3754th in West Division - - Failed to Qualify
Total39401 .495 1 Division
Championship
5 2 1 Grey Cup

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JIM DUNCAN . profootballarchives.com . December 10, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141210183026/http://www.profootballarchives.com/dunc01400.html . December 10, 2014 .
  2. Book: Mike Flynn. Appalachian Football 2009 Media Guide. History and Traditions: All-Time Coaching Records. Appalachian Sports Information. PDF. 2009. 184.
  3. News: Jim Duncan Quits. United Press International. The Washington Post. December 5, 1964. March 17, 2009. May 24, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524192922/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/164855812.html?dids=164855812:164855812&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=DEC+05,+1964&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Jim+Duncan+Quits&pqatl=google. dead.
  4. News: Duncan Trying to Sell London team to the rest of Canadian football clubs. Gordan Grant. The Lethbridge Herald. May 28, 1974. March 17, 2009.
  5. https://godeacs.com/honors/wake-forest-sports-hall-of-fame/jim-duncan/33 (1985) - Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
  6. https://ncshof.org/2023/01/jim-duncan/ Jim Duncan – NC Sports Hall of Fame