Norm Daniels

Norman Daniels ("Danny")

• School University of Michigan
• Born March 25, 1907 in Detroit, MI USA
• Died May 11, 2009 in Middletown, CT USA

Biographical Information

Norm Daniels was the head coach of the Wesleyan University baseball team from 1941 to 1973.

Daniels graduated from the University of Michigan in 1932, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He was the starting second baseman for the Wolverines. After graduation he taught and coached for a couple years in Hillsdale, MI.

In 1934, Daniels became a physical education instructor at Wesleyan. Through the years, he assumed coaching duties in a variety of sports sometimes coaching up to three sports in a single academic year. At one time or another, Norm was the head coach of the football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and squash squads.

Daniels became the varsity baseball coach in 1941 and stayed in the position until he retired in 1973. He compiled a record of 253-261-6 over the 33 seasons.

Besides coaching, Daniels also taught at Wesleyan and was named a full professor in 1948 after he had earned his master's degree. He also took an active interest in the local community, and took part in numerous organizations, committees and associations around Middletown. He even served a three year term on the Middletown City Council.

On the occassion of his 100th birthday in 2007, the Mayor of Middletown declared April 6, 2007 as "Norm Daniels Day" and Wesleyan University named the lobby of the Freeman Athletic Center in his honor. In 2008, Norm was inducted in the Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Further Reading

• AP Obit
• 100th Birthday Tribute
• Wesleyan Hall of Fame Bio