Duncan was a member of the association’s 14th annual class and was officially inducted on Jan. 6 in Wylie, Texas. He was one of seven members inducted into the prestigious group.
Duncan has been associated with Texas Southern for over 50-plus years as a head coach, student-athlete, supporter and instructor.
Under the leadership of Duncan, TSU’s men’s track and field team captured the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Title marking the program’s first Championship since 1994. Texas Southern swept the league’s track and field titles during the 2016 campaign as they were claimed Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Champions. In 2019, TSU won its first men’s cross country title since 1993 while the men’s cross country team was named a 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s All-Academic team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). In 2021, Duncan also had the opportunity to make history as long jumper Kenneth Pree qualified for the NCAA Men’s Track & Field National Championships. Pree’s qualification marked the first time since 2012 a TSU student-athlete has participated in the national championships.
Prior to his arrival at Texas Southern University, Duncan was on the pro circuit, training world-class runners in his “Prime Time Sports Track and Field Club.” He founded and headed the organization for 12 years.
During the mid to late eighties, Duncan served as the head men and women’s track and field coach at Arizona State. Prior to his appointment, he spent three seasons at the University of Washington as the head women’s track and field coach and was in charge of sprints for the men’s squad.
Duncan spent five years with the University of Houston (1977-1982). He was responsible for sprinters, relay teams, hurdlers and recruiting. He also recruited University of Houston Hall of Famer and Olympian Carl Lewis to the Cougar program in 1980. Duncan has also held head coaching positions at Grambling State University and at Wiley College earlier in his career. He began his coaching career at Texas Southern in 1969 under former TSU standout head coach Dave Bethany.
As a Collegiate athlete, Duncan and the Flying Tigers held three world records under legendary track and field coach Stan Wright. Duncan and his teammates posted the 4×100 relay world record on two separate occasions. The Flying Tigers indoor mile relay squad set the 1966 world mark in this event. Also, the 1965 sprint medley relay broke the world record and Duncan earned the title of the “World fastest Human” during his freshman year. Additionally, he was the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association’s 60-yard dash champion.
Duncan was inducted into the National Federation of State High School Association’s Hall of Fame in July 2007. He won nine state boys’ track championships in the early 1960s while attending North High School in Des Moines, Ia.
He swept the 100, 220 and 440-yard dashes from 1962 to 1964. Amazingly in 2007, he still owns the state’s top time (9.3) in the 100-yard dash. He was the 14th Iowan inducted into the National Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1982 to honor students, coaches and officials involved in high school extracurricular activities. Duncan was also inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame and in 2010, he was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame.
The Des Moines, Ia. native received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Southern in 1969 and a master’s degree in 1972.