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Pete Chapman

Inducted: 2002

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.