August 1, 2012

BOSTON, Mass. - The Great Northeast Athletic Conference and Suffolk University Athletic Department are deeply saddened with the news on the passing of former Rams great Joe Walsh '76 on Tuesday morning.

Walsh, the former Head Baseball Coach also served as Head Coach for Women's Basketball and Cross-Country at Suffolk. He passed away suddenly Tuesday morning in Chester, N.H. at his home.

Walsh served as skipper for the Rams baseball team from 1980-1995 posting a record of 222-176-1 in 15 seasons leading Suffolk to three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament appearances. In 1995 Suffolk posted a record of 26-11, the most wins in program history at the time, which earned Walsh the Division-III Coach of the Year honors for the New England region that season.

A former three-sport athlete at Suffolk (baseball, basketball and cross-country), Walsh held his positions with great pride and honor. In 2009 he was inducted into Suffolk University's Athletics Hall of Fame. Walsh's 1984 Baseball team was also inducted that evening as they were the first baseball team to earn a postseason bid in program history. During his induction speech Walsh endeared those in attendance reflecting on his time on Beacon Hill with humor and devotion to the institution. Many of Walsh's anecdotes focused around the obstacles he faced as a baseball coach with no field, but it was his charisma and fiery personality that helped the Suffolk team and his players adopt the nickname the "Mutts."

Suffolk University Directors of Athletics James Nelson issued this statement on Walsh's passing. "It is with a deep personal sadness that we mourn the passing of Joe Walsh one of our most respected and beloved former student athletes and coaching colleagues at Suffolk University. Joe enriched the lives of his teammates while representing the University in three intercollegiate programs, baseball, basketball and cross country later to be a role model while as a head coach of three sports on our campus. Suffolk University and our Athletic Department cherish his contributions and lasting memories as we extend our sympathy and prayers to his wife Sandra and four daughters, Tory, Holly, Katie and Kasey."

In 1996 Walsh left Suffolk to become the Head Baseball Coach at Harvard University. He became Harvard's first full-time, and first endowed, baseball coach. Walsh led the Crimson to a school record 36 wins and national ranking of 24th in 1998. He was named Northeast Region Division I Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) for the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Walsh was also affiliated with the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball league from 1988-1998. He served as Head Coach for the Brewster Whitecaps and later went on to work for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and Wareham Gateman as a pitching coach for seven seasons.

In 32 years as a college head baseball coach, Walsh posted an overall record of 569-564-3.

More information with funeral details will be forthcoming.

*Release courtesy of Suffolk University Sports Infomation Dept.