Kermit Ambrose
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Mention the name Kermit Ambrose to anyone that has run in a Michigan cross country or track meet over the last fifty years and they would describe a no nonsense man devoted to excellence in coaching and officiating athletics.

Last Friday, Ambrose turned 95 but you wouldn't know it.   He has an incredible memory and still drives to races as a spectator and occasional starter. The sound of Ambrose announcing the start of a race with his slow, calm signal: "runners on your mark" could be heard virtually every weekend for the last thirty some years.  

Ambrose's own sports career began by playing high school football at a small school in Nebraska. Back then the local cobbler made football shoes by adding cleats to work boots. Kermit also played (and made All Conference) at Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska. He was inducted into the WSC Hall of Fame in 1966.

After a short stint teaching math and science, as well as coaching freshmen and sophomore football, basketball and track, he enlisted in the Air Force rather than wait to be drafted into WWII. As a meteorologist, he moved up the ranks to tech sergeant. His tour of duty took him across the U.S. then to places such as Scotland, Iran, Morocco and Italy. The Air Force helped him to complete weather forecasting school and eventually a master's degree from the University of Michigan.

A college roommate encouraged him to take a substitute teaching job in Michigan. By 1954, Ambrose focused his teaching and track coaching talents at Birmingham Seaholm.

During his twelve years as cross-country coach, Ambrose amassed success that few can match. Seaholm won 95 of 112 dual meets, nine regional championships and two state titles. Twenty-three of his kids made All-State.   One year all seven runners reached the top twenty-five in the state meet.

Many of his athletes remember his 5/5/5 workouts. Five minute runs at 5km pace with recovery time in between. Or the circular course, Rhonda Road runs where the fastest runners would head in one direction while the slower runners would head in the other. As each fast runner caught a slow runner, both got to turn around and head back to the start.

Ambrose often set up workouts that would benefit kids based on their abilities. More than 40 kids would show up for cross-country and another 75 plus joined the track team. Every kid was given the opportunity to compete and feel important, which may have had a lot to do with the great turnouts.

Ambrose read everything he could about coaching and attended numerous clinics. He came to the conclusion that every kid was different and they couldn't all do the same amount of work. Once his runners came out to participate they stayed.

Every year the Kermit Ambrose Award is presented at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) banquet in recognition of someone who has made a significant contribution to cross country.  

After retiring from Seaholm in 1967 Ambrose continued his involvement in the lives of athletes and coaches. For 21 years he helped organize the Wolverine cross-country camp in Wolverine, Michigan. Many of Michigan's best runners have attended this camp.

Kermit stories abound through the Michigan coaching ranks. Former EMU coach Bob Parks remembers the time Kermit came to one of his staff parties but walked up to the neighbor's home by mistake. When no one answered he started to head away only to be confronted by six police cars. Turned out it was the Chief of Police's home. A dozen track officials ran out to defend Ambrose.

Kermit lives with his Arthur Itis (as he likes to joke) in Royal Oak. His walk may be slow but his many friends are quick to offer him invites for dinner or trips to one of the NCAA championships.   It's a way of honoring this vehement man whose life is dedicated to athletics and its athletes.

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226