Pete
Chapman
Pete
Chapman was an integral part of the Wayne State community
for over 17 years as both a football coach and athletic
director. He coached the Wildcats from 1983-88 while serving
as director of athletics from 1987-99. In 1984, Chapman
was honored as the Omaha World Herald's College Coach of
the Year after leading the Wildcats to an 8-3 record. That
same year, he was tabbed the Central States Intercollegiate
Conference Football Coach of the Year. The eight victories
were the second most wins in a season by any Wildcat football
coach.
Chpaman
took over as the first full-time director of athletics in
1987. During his tenure, the number of sports offered at
Wayne State increased from eight to 15. Chapman was instrumental
in the Wildcats' acceptance into NCAA Division II in 1989
and played an important role in the school's change from
an independent to joining the Northern Sun Conference in
1999.
Chapman
was a 1971 graduate of the University of Nebraska and earned
his master's degree from South Dakota State in 1980. He
previously coached at Milligan and Osceola High Schools
in Nebraska and was an assistant coach at South Dakota State
for two seasons before taking over at Yankton College, forging
4-6 and 8-2 records before joining Wayne State. He graduated
from Omaha Central in 1967.
Chapman
left WSC in 1999 to become athletic director at Missouri
Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was honored
as the NACDA Division II Midwest Athletic Director of the
Year in 2001. Chapman passed away following a lengthy battle
with cancer in January, 2003. Chapman and his wife Marcia
have three children, Jennifer; Matt and Melissa.
Chapman was inducted into the WSC Athletics
Hall of Fame on October 5, 2002.
