SEMO football community devastated after sudden death of student-athlete

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri State University is mourning the death of football student-athlete Danny Duray, who died early Wednesday, Feb. 11.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that one of our student-athletes passed away,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brady Barke said in a statement. “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.”

Duray, a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, majored in business administration. He returned to the SEMO Redhawks football program after redshirting as a true freshman in 2024.

During the 2025 season, Duray played at College of DuPage, where he converted 32 of 33 point-after attempts and 10 of 13 field goals, scoring 62 points as the team’s kicker. He graduated from Hersey High School, where he played football and soccer.

“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 in a statement. “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.”