Dick Durant Award

In Recognition of Academic Excellence
Mr. Dick Durrant was an outstanding teacher, coach and athletic director at Elgin Community College from 1961 through 1985.

While at Elgin Community College, Dick Durrant's teams won several Conference and Regional Championships, but Dick was better known for his concern for students, his sense of fair play and his attitude of education before athletics.

Dick Durrant earned a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Science Degree in Physical Education and Counseling from Michigan State University and worked toward his Doctorate Degree at Indiana University.

While at Elgin Community College, Dick was very involved in instructional development in the area of physical education. In addition, he organized summer camp programs for community youth in basketball, baseball, marshal arts, cheer leading and baton twirling. He also originated and hosted the Annual Spartan Invitational Basketball Tournament which was one of the finest basketball tournaments in the state for many years.

Student success was always Dick Durrant's primary concern. He encouraged his players to be good players, good students and good citizens. It was a pleasure to compete against Dick's teams because his players were not only highly competitive, they had a great work ethic and displayed a love for the game. In addition, and more importantly, over ninety percent of Dick's players received their degrees during his tenure as coach. Dick Durrant retired from coaching in 1985 and lived in Elgin with his wife Patricia until his passing in 2005. He had three children, Dave, Nancy and Ken. Dick's concern for students and his attitude of education before athletics in recognized each year by the Skyway Conference with the annual awarding of the "Dick Durrant Award".

The "Dick Durrant Award" is given each year to the male and female athlete in the Skyway Conference who attains the highest grade point average after completing four semesters of college work and at least forty eight semester hours of credit.

Criteria for the "Dick Durrant" Award

1. To be eligible, an athlete must have completed two years of academic work. (Note: One year of academic work is equal to two semesters or three quarters.)

2. The athlete must enroll in and complete an average of twelve hours of college work in each term of attendance, have a cumulative G.P.A. of "B", and accumulate at least 48 semester hours. The athlete may enroll in less than twelve hours in a mini-term or summer session, however, such a term of less than twelve hours will not apply toward the criteria of two years of academic work.

3. The athletes G.P.A. for all academic work attempted shall be used.

4. The last academic year of work must be taken at the Skyway Conference school represented by the athlete.

5. All nominations for the Dick Durrant Award with a 3.00 G.P.A. or better will be listed as the Skyway All-Academic team.

6. Athletes participating in any N.J.C.A.A. sport at a Skyway member institution, even if is is not an official conference sport that season, shall be eligible for the Dick Durrant Award and Academic - All Conference recognition.

View Dick Durant Award Honorees Here

Academic All-Conference

At the completion of each academic year, the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference presents the Academic All-Conference Freshmen award to student-athletes with 24 hours or more completed with a 3.00 GPA or higher.  The Academic All-Conference Sophomore award is given to student-athletes with 48 hours or more completed with a 3.00 GPA or higher.  

View Academic All-Conference Honorees Here