Southeast Missouri State University kicker Danny Duray has died at age 20, the school announced on Wednesday, February 11. His cause of death has not been confirmed.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that one of our student-athletes passed away,” SEMO Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brady Barke said in a statement on Wednesday. “This is a heartbreaking loss for our department, our campus community, and especially for those who knew and cared for him closely. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Duray family.”
Police told the Southeast Missourian that it received a medical assistance call at 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday morning to Houck Field, where the Redhawks play their home games.
“Today is one of the hardest days I’ve experienced as a coach. We lost a young man who mattered deeply to our program and to so many,” head football coach Tom Matukewicz said. “Our team is hurting. Danny’s family is hurting. We are going to wrap our arms around them the best we can and walk through this pain together.”
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Duray began his career with the Redhawks in 2024, redshirting his true freshman season. He then transferred to College of DuPage, where he shined as a kicker, converting 32 of 33 extra points and making 10 of his 13 field goal attempts.
He transferred back to Southeast Missouri State where he was a business administration major and planned to play the 2026 season for SEMO in the FCS’ Ohio Valley Conference.
“Danny was just so full of life and was always the funniest guy in the room,” Redhawks wide receiver Anthony Westervelt told On Target Sports. “Whenever he was around there was never a dull moment. I’ll always remember him as the life of the party. He always made sure to be there for people and encourage others. He was loved by so many people and we all are going to miss him very much.”
Before his college days, Duray played football and soccer at Hersey High School in Arlington, Illinois. The Huskies football program remembered him in a tribute via X on Wednesday for the impact he made on and off the field.
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“Hersey Football is devastated to share the passing of one of our former players, Danny Duray, Wednesday morning February 11th, 2026,” the tribute began. “With the support of our soccer program, Danny joined our team late in the 2023 season. In that short time, the impact he made on the field as our kicker was historic.”
The statement continued, “However, Danny the person was a greater legacy. His natural talent and personal charisma made it easy for him to immediately belong. He was able to make positive, life-long impressions on the team, coaches, and players with his humorous character, willingness to learn, and passion to commit. He loved what he did. He loved his teammates, and his teammates loved him. We are all hurting right now, but we want to extend our deepest sympathies to Danny’s family, teammates, friends, and fellow students.”
