Wayne Graham, Former Rice Coach, Dies at 88

Wayne Graham, the legendary baseball coach who led Rice University to its first College World Series championship in 2003, has died at the age of 88. Graham, a Houston native, coached Rice for 26 seasons, achieving 1,173 wins, 21 conference championships, and 23 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1995-2017. Before Rice, he led San Jacinto Junior College to multiple NJCAA World Series titles. Known for his profound impact on players and coaches, Graham was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. His legacy includes mentoring MLB stars like Roger Clemens and Anthony Rendon. Tributes poured in from the baseball community, highlighting Graham’s influence and exceptional career.