Buffalo State is saddened by the loss of 2004 Athletics Hall of Fame honorary inductee Joe Harrington who passed away on Friday, May 1, at the age of 81.  
 
Harrington was an original member of the Buffalo State football coaching staff, helping start the program alongside Les Dugan.  He remained a member of the staff for 20 years and played an integral role on Jerry Boyes' teams that made 10-consecutive postseason berths from 1991-2000, a run that included seven trips to the NCAA playoffs.
 
He also was a founding member of the Buffalo State Bengal Booster Club and served as a president and a member of the board of directors for nearly 20 years. 
 
Harrington first came to Buffalo State as a student, earning his bachelor's degree in 1962.  Buffalo State did not sponsor football during his undergraduate days, so Harrington competed with the school's soccer team.
 
He went on to serve as chairman of the English Department for Sweet Home Junior High and Middle School and was also a longtime coach with the Panthers' highly successful football program.
 
BUFFALO NEWS OBITUARY