Boyd Coffie

Howard Boyd Coffie (November 6, 1937 – May 2, 2006) was an American minor league baseball player, manager, college coach, scout and executive.

Boyd Coffie
Catcher
Born: (1937-11-06)November 6, 1937
Athens, Tennessee
Died: May 2, 2006(2006-05-02) (aged 68)
Athens, Tennessee
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Nebraska State League debut
1959, for the Kearney Yankees
Last Florida State League appearance
1966, for the Orlando Twins
Career statistics
Batting average.235
Home runs24
Teams
Playing career
Managerial career
Career highlights and awards

He attended McMinn County High School and then Rollins College.[1]

Playing career

In 1959, Coffie won the Florida Intercollegiate Conference MVP Award.[2] He was an NAIA All-American in 1958 and 1959[3] While at Rollins College, he was also an All-Conference basketball player.[4]

He began his professional career in 1959, playing in the New York Yankees chain from 1959 to 1961. His first season was spent with the Kearney Yankees, hitting .286 with 11 home runs in 56 games. He played for the Greensboro Yankees in 1960, and in 92 games his average dropped to .216, and he hit only five home runs. His averaged dropped again in 1961 to .211, as he played in 39 games for the Binghamton Triplets.

He missed 1962 and 1963 to military service, but from 1964 to 1966 he played for the Orlando Twins in the Minnesota Twins farm system. In his first year back, he hit .228 in 66 games. His averaged dropped to .206 in 1965, but he raised it to .251 in his final season, 1966.

Overall, Coffie batted .235 in 413 minor league games, over a span of six seasons.[5]

Managerial career

Coffie managed three years in the minor leagues.

Year-by-year managerial record
YearTeamLeagueRecordFinishOrganizationPlayoffs
1968Auburn TwinsNew York–Penn League49-271stMinnesota TwinsLost League Finals
1970Auburn TwinsNew York–Penn League43-261stMinnesota TwinsLeague Champs
1971Auburn TwinsNew York–Penn League42-282ndMinnesota Twinsnone

[6]

He also managed the Columbus Red Stixx for part of 1997 while manager Jack Mull was away on medical leave.[7]

Coaching career

Coffie was the head coach of the Rollins College baseball team from 1972 to 1991. He had a record of 586–419–6 at Rollins[3] and was the Sunshine State Conference coach of the year in 1983 and 1986.[3] In 1982, he was named the Florida Coach of the Year[1] He holds the record for most wins by a coach in Rollins College history.[4]

He also served as the head basketball coach at Rollins from 1962 to 1972, compiling a record of 94–145[8] He was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Athletic Award by the Rollins College athletic department.[9]

Following his retirement, he was enshrined in the Sunshine State Conference, Florida Sports and North Carolina Halls of Fame.[1]

Executive career

Coffie served as the farm director of the Cleveland Indians from 1993 to 1994. He was the Director of Instruction in minor league operations for the Indians in 1995. In 1996, he served as the Colorado Rockies minor league field coordinator. He also served as the Rockies' roving catching instructor.[10]

Death

Coffie died from cancer at the age of 68 in 2006.[11] In his honor, a golf tournament known as the Boyd Coffie Golf Classic is played annually.[1][12]

References
  1. News Channel 9 article
  2. Rollins College
  3. "Rollins Sports". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  4. Article
  5. Baseball Reference Minors
  6. Baseball Reference Bullpen
  7. Sports Illustrated
  8. Sports Illustrated
  9. Orlando Florida Guide
  10. Find Articles
  11. Rocky Mountain News Archived 2012-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
  12. DAC Orlando Archived July 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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