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“It’s a very sad day for all of us here at Molloy,” said Richard Karsten, president of Molloy. “Coach Curran built a legacy that transcends any traditional notion of coaching high school athletics. To him it was always about the kids. They were the reason for his success. His passing will not only be felt by today’s students, faculty and staff, but generations going back over 50 years.”
Curran had the best record in New York State history, with a 972-437 record coaching varsity basketball and a 1,708-523 record coaching varsity baseball. He won the Catholic High School Athletic Association title 25 times for baseball and 22 times for basketball. His teams won 17 baseball CHSAA City Championships and five basketball CHSAA City Championships. No other coach has won City Championships in both sports in the same year, but Curran did it four times - in 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1987.
Raised in the Bronx, Curran graduated from All Hallows High School in 1948. He went to St. John's University and later played professional baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies for three years until a back injury ended his career. He began coaching baseball and basketball at Archbishop Molloy in 1958.
Curran coached several NBA and MLB stars throughout his career, as well as distinguished college athletes. He has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the National High School, St. John's University, NY State Basketball, CHSAA, Westchester County Sports, All Hallows, Basketball Old-Timers of America, and NY City Basketball.
"Coach taught us all how we should act on and off the court or field," said Mike McCleary, Molloy's athletic director. "Not being around such a great man is going to be difficult for all of us. Coach will be sorely missed."
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
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