Duke Sports Information announced this morning that Tom D'Armi, who served as Duke Baseball's coach from 1978-84 and also served as director of athletic facilities and game management for all sports, died Saturday at the age of 75.
D'Armi coached eight All-ACC selections and seven MLB draft picks during his seven seasons at the helm. He was named ACC coach of the year in 1981 after Duke went 29-10 and advanced far in the ACC Tournament.
As director of facilities, D'Armi went from grooming and lining Jack Coombs Field by himself to overseeing Cameron Indoor Stadium and Wallace Wade Stadium. According to Mark Militello, who played under D'Armi, Ronald Reagan once came to speak at Cameron, and D'Armi would not give the arena's keys to the Secret Service.
"He said something like, 'I go where the key goes. No exceptions.' Coach D'Armi defeated the Secret Service," Militello said.
"A celebration of his life is being planned for August," according to the press release.
In other Duke Baseball news:
- In summer ball, Marcus Stroman has completely taken over the Cape Cod League. The rising sophomore has not allowed a run in 15.2 innings of work, and he has 15 strikeouts and only one walk with the Orleans Firebirds.
- Devin Burke, who also is competing in the Cape Cod League this summer, tallied his first win of the summer July 4 by taking over for Duke teammate Eric Pfisterer and holding the rival Bourne Braves to only one run on two hits in two innings of work.
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