Former Canisius College head men’s basketball coach Joseph Curran passed away Jan. 28, in Mystic, Conn. at the age of 89. Curran served as the Golden Griffins’ bench boss for six season from 1953-59, where he compiled a career record of 76-66.

Curran, who also served as the College’s athletic director, led Canisius to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1955-57. The only head coach in program history to win an NCAA Tournament game, Curran helped guide the Griffs to a 79-78 four-overtime victory over No. 2 North Carolina State in Madison Square Garden in 1956. That game is widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in NCAA Tournament history. In the 1957 national tournament, Curran’s squad held former West Virginia great Rod Hundley to 17 points as the Blue and Gold eliminated the Mountaineers in the East Region quarterfinal round with a 64-56 win.

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