Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News

Ted Kjolhede died at his home Sunday. [Click to enlarge]

Ted Kjolhede was true to CMU.

He graduated from the university in 1948. He also was the head basketball coach for 15 seasons and later the athletics director from 1972 to 1984.

"I think he was a real pioneer here at the university in the rapid growth period of athletics," said Athletics Director Dave Heeke. "It's not common anymore to have someone who was a student athlete at the university, was also a coach, then an administrator. That's very rare."

Kjolhede died Sunday at his home. He was 84.

Many linked his name synonymously with CMU.

Kjolhede's wife, Ginger, said Ted loved Central Michigan as much as anything. He started at CMU in 1941, and returned after serving in the Army. Kjolhede then was hired in 1956 as the men's basketball coach.

"He was very, very happy and pleased when they asked him to come back as basketball coach," Ginger said. "… I sometimes think he loved it almost as much as he did his family. He always took the side of the university above anything else."

During Kjolhede's time as athletics director, he saw CMU go from Division II to Division I and join the Mid-American Conference. He also was involved in the rebuilding and renovations of Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Rose Arena, Theunissen Stadium and Bennett Track.

Kjolhede also had a hand in bringing in two of CMU's most successful football coaches. He gave Roy Kramer his first coaching job as a junior varsity coach at Battle Creek Central High School. Kramer was 83-32-2 at Central during his stay from 1967 to 1977.

"He certainly was a Chippewa from beginning to end," Kramer said. "He was the essence of the maroon and gold spirit. He loved Central Michigan, he grew up with Central Michigan and it was his life."

Kjolhede also hired Herb Deromedi, who won 110 games at CMU from 1978 to 1993.

"What impressed me most about Ted is the person," Deromedi said. "He's a man of great integrity. … He was one of those individuals who really cared about his athletes."

Ginger Kjolhede said she will remember her husband for many things - being fair, his sense of humor, and standing up for what he believed in. While attending a sporting event, Ted Kjolhede would take issue with any spectator who questioned the coach, Ginger said.

"No matter who the person was, he always found the good in them, and that's what he found in working with the university," Ginger said. "He was one of a kind. We often said his blood ran maroon and gold."

Visiting hours for Kjolhede will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Clark Family Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley St. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, 400 S. Main St.


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