Integrity. Honesty. Patience. Objective Listener. Adaptability. Determined and Persistent. Harmonious to his Peers. Loyal to a Fault.
Those are some of Jack “Doc” Sanford’s strongest attributes according to his son, John Sanford.
“My father would have been extremely honored and humble about this induction,” said Sanford. “He would have been grateful for the acknowledgement.”
Doc Sanford, a Chatham, Va., native, who passed away in 2015, at the age of 87. Sanford served as head baseball coach of Barton (then-Atlantic Christian) for three stints – 1970, 1973, and 1980-84 – and taught in the Department of Physical Education and Health for the College for 19 years (1966-84) in addition to his position as the department’s chair.
Sanford led the Bulldogs to their first-ever Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Championship in 1984 and was named the league and NAIA District 26 Coach of the Year.
Sanford’s impact on others is profound and immeasurable.
“Doc Sanford touched the lives of many at Atlantic Christian College, especially those was were fortunate to play baseball for him,” said Billy Godwin, a 1986 Atlantic Christian graduate and the current Head Baseball Coach at UNC Greensboro. “Doc had a life-long impact on all the players he coached. His wit, knowledge and charisma have been handed down through his former players since 1984. I don’t know that Barton College has had a coach who was more beloved by his players. He stood for excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community.”
Godwin was the 1985-86 Atlantic Christian Male Athlete of the Year and served nine years as Head Baseball Coach at East Carolina University (2006-14). Godwin will provide the introduction for Sanford at the induction ceremony.
It would be nearly impossible to list all of Sanford’s accomplishments. He played four sports as an undergraduate at the University of Richmond – track and field, baseball, basketball and football – and played three years for the Washington Senators.
Sanford, who served in the Air Force (1941-46) during World War II, also worked at Elon (1956-66) where he served as Head Baseball Coach and was a professor and chairman for the Department of Health and Physical Education. The 1958 Fighting Christians team was the first in any sport in school history to earn a berth to the NAIA National Tournament.
Sanford is also a member of the Elon Sports and NAIA Baseball Hall of Fame. He earned his master’s degree from Wake Forest University and his doctorate from the University of North Carolina. Sanford had coaching stints at Randolph-Macon (1946-49), Wake Forest (1950) and UNC (1951-55) as well.
Despite the accolades, Sanford was always true to his beliefs.
“He loved teaching,” said his son, John. “He enjoyed the back and forth exchange with students in class and telling his anecdotal stories which many found hilarious. He loved coaching and many players and students alike stayed in touch with him after graduation and well beyond his retirement. He was much respected and loved those lives he touched. ACC/Barton was his home away from home.”
