Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Football, Baseball (1960's); Football Coach (1971-79)

Duke Christian was an important figure in Southeastern Oklahoma State University football for a period of twenty years beginning as a student-athlete and extending through a highly successful stint as head coach for eight years during the 1970’s.

Christian was born in 1941 at Oklahoma City. He was an all-conference performer in football, basketball, baseball, and track at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City. He was the only four sport letterman in one year in the school’s history. His high school career culminated in his selection to the Oklahoma All-State baseball team in 1959.

Duke played football and baseball for Southeastern. He quarterbacked the Savages under Melvin Brown and Bob Thomas. He developed an affinity for the forward pass that was to be a trademark to his coaching career. Following several years as an assistant under Coach Thomas, Christian became head coach of his alma mater in 1971.

The eight years of Christian coached teams were an exciting chapter in Savage football. His teams posted sic winning seasons and had two nationally ranked teams. The program produced a conference championship in 1976 and finished below second in the conference in only tow of Christian’s eight seasons.

Duke was selected as NAIA District Coach of the Year and OCC Coach of the Year. His program produced numerous all-conference selections and three All-Americans.

Christian left Southeastern in 1979 for an eight year stint with Baylor University where he served as offensive coordinator. The Bears won a Southwest Conference championship and played in five bowl games during this period. Duke’s teams established numerous offensive school records. In 1988 he moved to Tulane University in a similar position as offensive coordinator.

Duke Christian has left his mark on the history of Southeastern football. The university recognized his great contributions on February 4, 1989, by naming him to the Athletic Hall of Fame.