Former SRU running back loses battle with cancer

Joe Daniels, 69, received all-district honors as a running back, co-captained the 1963 Slippery Rock football team, and went on to have an illustrious coaching career in the college and professional ranks, but on Sunday, he lost his five-year battle with kidney cancer.

Daniels, who was inducted into the Slippery Rock Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, was a four-year letter winner in football and two-year letter winner for gymnastics while at the university.

Daniels was an assistant football coach at Ohio State University from 2001 to 2009 and was diagnosed with his disease in 2006 after suffering a mild heart attack.

Gene Smith, Ohio State University athletic director, said Daniels had a positive effect on everyone he met.

"There are hundreds of former and current football players who are blessed because of the relationship they had with Joe," Smith said in a press release. "It was an honor to be in his presence and we thank him for what he gave Buckeye Nation while he was a coach and administrator."

At the college level, Daniels coached at Boston College, West Virginia University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Cincinnati.

While at the University of Pittsburgh, he mentored Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Other big name players who Daniels mentored over the years included Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith from Ohio State, and Terrelle Pryor who was recently drafted in the NFL supplemental draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Pryor said that he looked up to Daniels when he was at Ohio State because he knew he was battling cancer but he never showed he was having any problems.

"I just remember how quiet he was and just how strong he was," Pryor said. "I always knew he was fighting his cancer and I looked up to him because he was fighting cancer. He wouldn't show he was hurting, but I could tell he was but he acted like nothing was wrong and that's what I admire most about him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Daniels was also a quarterback's coach of the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets in the NFL for a total of seven years.

He leaves behind a wife, Kathy, son Matt, and daughter Kaitlin.