Donnie Duncan (August 28, 1940 â March 12, 2016) was an American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Iowa State University from 1979 to 1982, compiling a record of 18âÂÂ24âÂÂ2. His 1980 and 1981 Cyclones squads both made appearances in the national rankings. The 1981 Cyclones began the season at 5âÂÂ1âÂÂ1 and rose to No. 11 in the AP Poll. Led by future National Football League (NFL) players Dwayne Crutchfield, Dan Johnson, Karl Nelson and Chris Washington, the Cyclones tied No. 5 Oklahoma (7âÂÂ7) and downed No. 8 Missouri (34âÂÂ13).
A native of Celeste, Texas, Duncan played college football and college baseball at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He began his coaching career in 1962 as line coach at Dublin High School in Dublin, Texas. The following year he moved to Tarleton State CollegeâÂÂnow known as Tarleton State UniversityâÂÂin Stephenville, Texas as offensive ends coach. From 1965 to 1966, Duncan was the head football coach at Honey Grove High School in Honey Grove, Texas, leading the Warriors to a record of 20âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 in two season. In 1967, he was hired at Henderson County Junior CollegeâÂÂnow known as Trinity Valley Community CollegeâÂÂas assistant football coach under Bob Baccarini and track coach.
Duncan died from cancer on March 12, 2016, in Dallas.