Roy Kramer

Roy Kramer
Biographical details
Born (1929-10-30) October 30, 1929 (age 94)
Maryville, Tennessee, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1955Battle Creek Central HS (MI) (assistant)
1956Hudson HS (MI)
1957Dowagiac HS (MI)
1958–1959Benton Harbor HS (MI)
1960–1966East Lansing HS (MI)
1967–1977Central Michigan
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1978–1990Vanderbilt
1990–2002SEC (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall83–32–2 (college)
58–14–3 (high school)
Tournaments3–0 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NCAA Division II (1974)
2 IIAC (1967–1968)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2023 (profile)

Roy F. Kramer (born October 30, 1929)[1] is a former American high school, college football coach and athletics administrator. Kramer was the head football coach for Central Michigan University from 1967 to 1977, compiling a record of 83–32–2 and winning the 1974 NCAA Division II Football Championship. He then served as the athletic director at Vanderbilt University from 1978 to 1990, and later as the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference from 1990 to 2002, where he created the Bowl Championship Series.[2]

Administrative career

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Kramer became the sixth commissioner of the Southeastern Conference on January 10, 1990. Within seven months of his appointment, the conference announced plans for expansion, adding Arkansas and South Carolina officially on July 1, 1991. Following expansion, Kramer guided the conference in formulating divisional play and the first Division I-A conference football championship game.

During his tenure at the helm of the SEC, the conference won 81 national championships, the most ever in a decade by the league. Kramer oversaw the distribution of a then-league record $95.7 million to its member institutions for 2001–02. Kramer negotiated multi-sport national television packages with CBS and ESPN, featuring football and men's and women's basketball, through the 2008–09 season.

Because of his influence, the Men's and Women's SEC Athlete of the year award is presented annually as the Roy F. Kramer Award.

Kramer was succeeded as the SEC's commissioner by Michael Slive.

Awards and honors

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Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Central Michigan Chippewas (Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1967–1969)
1967 Central Michigan 8–2 2–1 1st
1968 Central Michigan 7–2 2–1 1st
1969 Central Michigan 7–3 2–1 2nd
Central Michigan Chippewas (NCAA College Division / Division II independent) (1970–1974)
1970 Central Michigan 7–3
1971 Central Michigan 5–5
1972 Central Michigan 5–5–1
1973 Central Michigan 7–4
1974 Central Michigan 12–1 W NCAA Division II Championship
Central Michigan Chippewas (Mid-American Conference) (1975–1977)
1975 Central Michigan 8–2–1 4–1–1 2nd
1976 Central Michigan 7–4 4–3 T–5th
1977 Central Michigan 10–1 7–1 2nd
Central Michigan: 83–32–2 21–8–1
Total: 83–32–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ Bisher, Furman (December 6, 1996). "Kramer means business". The Atlanta Constitution. p. G3. Retrieved November 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  2. ^ Jack Carey (December 8, 2007). "Man behind creation of BCS pleased with results". USA Today. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "CMUCHIPPEWAS.COM Roy Kramer Bio - Official Athletic Site". www.cmuchippewas.com. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "Roy Kramer « Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame". tshf.net. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "Roy Kramer". Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Cowan, Kevin (January 13, 2008). "Attorney's new home christened in festive fashion". Knoxville News Sentinel. pp. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/Jan/13/attorneys-new-home-christened-in-festive-fashion/.
  7. ^ "Vanderbilt Athletics Announces Inaugural Hall of Fame Class". Vanderbilt University. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  8. ^ "2011 College Football Award Winners". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Roy Kramer". East Lansing High School Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "Don't Miss the 2013 Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award Dinner Thursday! This Year's Winner is: Roy Kramer! | Spartan Nation". www.spartannation.com. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
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