We don’t recognize coaches and contributors from small college programs enough for their accomplishments in the game’s history. One such man we’ll spotlight today is Roy Kramer, who coached Central Michigan from 1967 through 1977, compiling a strong 83-32-2 record.
Football Bio
Roy Kramer was born on October 30, 1929, in Maryville, Tennessee.
We might recognize Mr. Kramer for his gridiron administrative accomplishments; however, before reshaping modern college football administration as the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and architect of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), Roy Foster Kramer built his foundation on the sidelines as one of the most successful head football coaches in the Midwest.
Kramer made an immediate mark across Michigan high schools in the 1950s and early 1960s, leading undefeated championship seasons at Hudson, Dowagiac, and East Lansing High School. In 1965, he joined Central Michigan University as a freshman coach and, in 1967, succeeded legendary head coach Bill Kelly.
Over an 11-season tenure in Mount Pleasant (1967–1977), Kramer transformed the Chippewas into a dominant powerhouse. His collegiate pinnacle came in 1974, when he led Central Michigan to a 12–1 season and the NCAA Division II National Championship, capping the run with a 54–14 rout of Delaware in the Camellia Bowl. Kramer transitioned CMU into NCAA Division I / Mid-American Conference (MAC) competition, closing his college coaching tenure with an 83–32–2 record before embarking on a transformative administrative career as Vanderbilt’s Athletic Director and SEC Commissioner. [National Football Foundation]
Coaching Career Record
| Level / Program | Seasons | Record | Notable Highlights |
| Michigan High Schools | 1956–1964 | 58–14–3 | 3 State Championships (Hudson, Dowagiac, East Lansing) |
| Central Michigan Chippewas | 1967–1977 | 83–32–2 | 1974 NCAA D-II National Championship; 2 IIAC Titles |
| NCAA Postseason (Playoffs) | 1974 | 3–0 | Outscored playoff opponents 113–28 |
Career Accolades and Honors
- NCAA Division II National Championship (1974)
- NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year (1974)
- College Football Hall of Fame (Inducted in 2023)
- Michigan Class A State Championships: Hudson (1956), Dowagiac (1957), East Lansing (1964)
- Michigan Class A Coach of the Year (1964)
- Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Championships: 1967, 1968
- Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame (Inducted in 1987)
- Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (Inducted in 1989)
- National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award (1998)
- SEC Athlete of the Year Award renamed in his honor (Roy F. Kramer Award)
The image was found, published with no copyright notice, in a 1958 edition of the Herald-Palladium. Courtesy of Newspapers.com, uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by a contributor.
