Former LSU All-American, who coached the area’s top athletes, dies from coronavirus
Orlando McDaniel, who starred in football and track and field at LSU, died on Friday as a result of coronavirus.
He was 59.
According to ESPN, McDaniel fell ill after traveling to Washington, D.C. ,to visit a family member. He coached some of the area’s top high school track and field athletes, including Mansfield Lake Ridge’s Jasmine Moore.
“RIP to someone who believed in me so much. Thank you for everything.” Moore said on Twitter. “I am truly grateful for everything you’ve done for me. Miss you already.”
Moore won nine UIL state gold medals at Lake Ridge and set the national record and UIL state record in the triple jump with a mark of 44 feet, 10 inches last season to win the Class 6A title.
Moore, who’s a freshman jumper at Georgia, capped off her prep career with the 2018-19 Gatorade National Track and Field Female Athlete of the Year.
“I can’t think of another coach who supported his athletes and believed in his athletes as much as he did,” said Joy Kamani, Chief Operations Officer of National Scholastic Athletics Foundation in a tribute. “And, that is saying a lot! His athletes were always incredibly talented and incredibly coached and taught.”
McDaniel was an all-state selection at Lake Charles High School in Shreveport before playing at LSU. He averaged 17.5 yards per catch as a senior, which ranked second in the SEC.
He won the SEC title in the 110-meter hurdles and finished second at the NCAA Division I championships in 1980. He was a three-time All-American.
McDaniel was a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1982, but only played three games during his only season.
“In loving memory of the best coach ever! You left a legacy behind and I’m grateful to have been apart of that,” former Duncanville runner Arius Williams said on Twitter. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and my family, you’ll forever be remembered. Love you Coach Orlando.”
McDaniel founded the North Texas Cheetahs Youth Track Club in 2003.
“He was such a tremendous athlete in both sports, but the love he had for track and field was really special,” LSU track and field coach Dennis Shaver told ESPN. “We’re fortunate that people like him get involved with our youth.
“He was one of the most important people in our sport. He had to persuade youth to spend their summers doing something productive. Orlando had essentially dedicated his life to it. They’d come to summer meets and have two busloads full of people. It was a real impressive group of people. He’s sorely going to be missed.”
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
