This Saturday, Hillsdale
will be honoring one of its local heroes while supporting a great cause. The "Wild Bill" Lundberg
Farmhouse 5km race/walk and barbeque will be take place to benefit St. Anthony's
Family Center.
Coach Lundberg has
coached 25 Conference Track and CC championship teams. He helped produce 185
Academic and Athletic All-Americans and 12 National Champions. Paul
Aufdemburge, one of Michigan greatest runners and a star at Hillsdale, had
nothing but praise for his former coach.
"Bill knows how to develop athletes. He doesn't burn them out. He listens to them, respects their
input and helps them as a person outside of the athletic arena."
Gary Wolfram, an
Economics professor at Hillsdale and top Michigan Master's runner often trains
with Bill and his cross country squad. Wolfram credits Lundberg's ability to
develop relationships with his runners and their parents as a huge asset in his
recruiting. "The parents know
that Bill will take a genuine interest in their kid and also follows through
with them on any help that they may need."
Lundberg's own success
as an athlete and product of Jackson's Lumen Christi HS (Class of 72) has given
him credibility. It was Lundberg's decision to run for the University of Kansas
that changed his life forever. Through the influence of Olympic Silver
Medallist and mile world record holder Jim Ryan, Bill became involved in the
Campus Crusade For Christ and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It has a
big impact on how he conducts his life and his relationships with God, his
family, friends and athletes.
While at Kansas,
Lundberg won the Big Eight Conference Track Championship in the steeplechase
and placed sixth in the National Championships earning him All-American status. He ran the U.S. Olympic trials in 1976
and 1980. He placed 5th in '76. In 1980 he was in position to medal
with two laps to go but fell at the water jump and ruptured his Achilles
tendon. He left the track on a stretcher and never competed in the steeple
again.
After graduation, he
became the youngest head coach in the nation when he returned home to coach
cross country and track at Jackson Community College. Unfortunately, the
program was later dropped and Lundberg had to find another position. He was an assistant at Eastern Michigan
before becoming Hillsdale's head coach in 1985. His success earned him NAIA National coach of the year in
1994 and NCAA divisional coach of year in 2000.
Lundberg said he is
accustomed to being part of a big close-knit family. He is one of seven and now
shares home with wife Sharon and three children, Steven (16), Kate (14) and
Thomas (11), all of whom love sports.
Two of Bill's athletes,
Dave Pressgrove and Johnathan Nikkila, who are also editors-in-chief of the
Hillsdale Collegian, wanted to something special for him before they graduated.
This weekend they want it "to be a great day to be a Charger" and
plan to honor Lundberg and also help serve the food and utility needs of
low-income families in the community.
For more information: March 16, 10 am. The Farmhouse at
1371 Mauck Rd. Hillsdale, Call 517 439-0397 or visit the web site: www.hillsdale.edu/chargers/mens/track
Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226
or [email protected]