MANCHESTER, N.H. –Southern New Hampshire University Librarian and assistant track and field coach Ed Daniels passed away on Friday at Elliott Hospital in Manchester, N.H. The Salisbury, N.H. resident was 71.
For more than three decades, he served as a Librarian for the student population and faculty at the Southern New Hampshire University (FKA New Hampshire College) Shapiro Library in Manchester. During his tenure, he became a full Professor. Before retiring he was awarded Professor Emeritus status. During his last decade of service, he was responsible for managing the SNHU Online Student Library Services program, which provides information services to the global student population. Ed was also tapped twice to fill a library leadership role, serving as the interim Dean and interim Co-Dean.
Ed was the first head coach of the SNHU Women's Cross Country team when the program started in 1995, and then led the Men's team in its first three seasons starting in 1997. When SNHU initiated a Women's Track & Field program in 2014, he served as a volunteer coach in the hammer and weight-throwing events. In 2016 he became the Women's Track & Field team throws coach. He developed two NCAA All-Americans who individually excelled at the shot put and javelin. Ed gifted SNHU with an endowment that provides budget resources to fund a women's team throws coach position for many years to come. The throws area at Mark A. Ouellette Stadium was dedicated to Coach Daniels in October 2022 during Homecoming.
Ed had a 52-year-long track & field career as a coach, meet manager, official, and NHIAA (New Hampshire Interscholastic Athlete Association) committee member. He coached student-athletes at Oyster River, Raymond, and Londonderry High Schools.
He was a 1970 graduate of Nashua High School and a 1974 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he received a BA degree in Ancient History/Greek Classics. While at UNH he threw the hammer weight, as a member of the men's track & field team. He also earned a master's degree in Library Science from the University of Rhode Island.
Ed also served as a board of directors' member for the Katie Bentley Lilac Project, a Salisbury NH non-profit organization that provides ways for individuals, institutions, schools, and municipalities to promote the love of lilacs in America.
SERVICES: Internment services will be private with a "celebration of life" for Ed to be held at a later date. Those wishing to make a charitable donation in Ed's memory, are invited to give to the Katie Bentley Lilac Project; PO Box 269; Salisbury, NH 03268 or http://www.katiebentleylilacproject.com or the SNHU Women's Track and Field Team via the SNHU Athletic Giving Support donation website: https://alumni.snhu.edu/make-a-gift/athletics/donate.
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