Virginia State University is mourning the loss of Harold Deane, who passed away over the weekend.
Deane Sr., was a two-sport student-athlete at Virginia State College (now University), competing in track and field and basketball. He was a three year starter on the men’s basketball team and selected to the CIAA All-Tournament team. Deane received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia State College in 1961 and went on to earn a master’s degree from Howard University in 1968.
Deane returned to his alma mater in 1969 as a professor in the Health and Physical Education Department, where he taught until his retirement in 2015. Additionally, he was the Head Men’s Basketball Coach from 1969-1979 and again from 1987-1994. He led the Trojans to a CIAA Championship in 1988 and was named the CIAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Coach. He was selected as the CIAA’s Coach of the Year in 1972, 1974, and 1976.
Deane’s leadership extended beyond the athletics arena. While attending VSC, he was the President of the Big Brothers Organization, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a member of the Army ROTC. He served in the US Army from 1961-1963, where he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant and earned a Letter of Commendation for outstanding leadership displayed during Exercise Swift Strike 111.
His son, Harold Deane, Jr. went on to play basketball at the University of Virginia.