Baseball 3/30/2018 6:00:00 PM

Hall of Fame Coach Don Colpoys Passes Away

Don Colpoys, a longtime baseball man who spent 25 seasons as the head coach of the Canisius College baseball program, passed away Thursday night at the age of 83.

Colpoys' baseball career spanned more than 60 years. His passion for the game, his numerous accomplishments on and off the diamond and the impact he made on the lives of countless young men in Western New York earned him a place in the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.

"This is a sad day for Canisius College, our baseball program and the baseball community in Western New York," Canisius Director of Athletics Bill Maher said. "Don Colpoys will forever be one of the pillars in the history of Canisius baseball. His impact on the game of baseball in Buffalo, and the student-athletes he coached during his time leading our program goes far beyond the diamond. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Don's family and everyone who had the special opportunity to be
able to call him coach."

At the time of his retirement from Canisius in 2001, Colpoys had won a school-record 325 career games as the Golden Griffins' skipper. His best season at Canisius came in 1994, when the Blue and Gold posted 28 wins and secured the first MAAC regular-season championship in program history. He was honored as the MAAC North Coach of the Year at the end of that season, as well. The Griffs' 1994 roster featured pitcher Joe Mamott, who was taken in the sixth round of the 1994 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. Colpoys also guided the 1986 edition of the Griffs to the school's first postseason berth, as the team won the ECAC North title and participated in the ECAC Upstate Division I Baseball Tournament in Pawtucket, R.I.

Colpoys, who was inducted to the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, started his baseball playing career as catcher at Bishop Timon in Buffalo, where he earned First-Team All-Catholic honors. After his professional career in the St. Louis Cardinals organization was cut short by injury, he went on to play and coach for the Simon Pures from 1957-70. He was 46-0 in his first year as manager and his first four teams posted an incredible 168-16 record, including 63 consecutive wins.

Later on, he took the AAABA Al Maroone team to the national tournament three times in six years. Following that successful coaching run was a stint as a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies and the manager's job with Niagara Falls Pirates of the New York-Penn League. In winter of 1979, Colpoys learned that Jersey City of the Eastern League would not be able to host a team that season, and after working with former Buffalo Mayor Jimmy Griffin and an ownership group, that franchise was brought to Buffalo, marking the first time professional baseball was played in the city since 1970. Colpoys served as the Bisons' general manager from 1979-84.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, April 2, from 2-7 p.m., at Reddington Funeral Home, located at 657 Abbott Road in Buffalo. The funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, April 3 at 9:30 a.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 450 Abbott Road in Buffalo.

Former players, friends and Canisius fans are invited to submit their memories of Don Colpoys to the Canisius athletic department by emailing thoughts to Canisius associate athletic director John Maddock at maddock@canisius.edu. Please note, unless specifically mentioned in the email, all submissions will be posted on GoGriffs.com and the department's social media channels throughout the week.

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