G. Richard Duffy '56

Coach

Varsity Baseball 1977 - 1999

JV Football 1974 - 1992

Richard "Dick" Duffy '56 joined the Tabor Academy faculty in 1969 as a member of the History Department. Prior to returning to Tabor, Coach Duffy graduated from Babson College, served as a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp and was in the management training program with Exxon Corporation.

Through his leadership, competitive spirit and dedication to self-discipline, Coach Duffy's athletes grew into confident students and individuals with the tenacity on the playing field, in the classroom and in the real world. Many credit Coach Duffy for the guidance and character development he provided them, shaping them into the people they are today.

Varsity baseball under Coach Duffy was a combination of playing hard, playing smart and just winning at all times. Many of his former players went on to play college baseball. In his 23 seasons, Coach Duffy's teams won 11 and tied 3 SNEPSBL Championships. A total of 268 career wins secured his induction into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Victory Club.

"Duff Ball" became the name for JV football while Coaches Duffy and Steve Carey were running the program. Most had never played the game before, so fundamentals and conditioning were critical components of the practice schedule. In the end, Duffy's athletes were never beat by being out hustled, out conditioned or out hit. The JV program became a feeder for an outstanding Tabor varsity program that won multiple New England Championships. Coach Duffy's 1984 team had an undefeated season, the only one on record for the Tabor JV program.

After 46 ears teaching and coaching, Coach Duffy's latest legacy to Tabor was imagining and launching Tabor Academy's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Grass doesn't grow on the JV field - Dick Duffy