Herb, Marilyn Deromedi named 2012 Homecoming Grand Marshals

After leading the Chippewas on the field for 39 years, former head football coach Herb Deromedi and his wife will lead CMU again-this time off the field.

Central Michigan University’s Office of Alumni Relations has named Herb and Marilyn Deromedi Grand Marshals for the 2012 Homecoming weekend, to be held the weekend of Oct. 19.

“It’s really an honor,” Herb said. “I was very surprised to find out we had been chosen. I know of many people in the community who have been Grand Marshals in the past, and it’s an honor to be chosen to be a part of that group.”

Herb and Marilyn, both University of Michigan graduates, moved to Mount Pleasant when Herb took a job as an assistant to former head football coach Roy Kramer in 1967.

Herb became defensive coordinator in 1969, and helped lead the Chippewas to win the NCAA Division II national championship in 1974.

He became head football coach at CMU in 1978. He held that position until 1993, leading the Chippewas to 110 total wins.

Under Herb’s leadership, the Chippweas won three Mid-American Conference titles. He is the only coach to lead a team to win a Mid-American Conference title in three different decades.

Herb was Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1990.

He retired from coaching with the fifteenth-highest winning percentage of active coaches.

Herb became Director of Athletics in 1994. He spent twelve years as Director of Athletics and retired in 2006.

Herb helped lead the Chippewas to back-to-back wins against Michigan State University in his career as athletic director, once in 1991 and again in 1992.

Since ending his time at CMU, Herb and Marilyn have kept tabs on the university and, more specifically, the football team.

“It’s exciting to see the growth of CMU, in both coaching and recruiting,” Marilyn said. “We’ve been here for 42 years now. Mount Pleasant is a very friendly town to live in.”

Herb and Marilyn are excited to represent and support CMU once again.

“My wife has always gone to the homecoming parade in the past and loved it. She always talked about the people and the experience,” Herb said. “Homecoming is something we both look forward to.”

Marilyn said she and her husband will act as goodwill ambassadors for the university and homecoming parade and will meet with alumni and people in general.

“It is a very lovely honor to have,” Marilyn said. “It will be heartwarming to see everyone again.”

The Chippewas will play their Homecoming game against Ball State University on Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m.