History of the Club
John William Heisman (1869-1936) was the first professional football coach at Oberlin College. In 1892, he led the Yeomen football team to a perfect 7-0 record. In those days of high-powered football, the '92 Oberlin grid squad defeated both Ohio State and Michigan and was ranked with Minnesota and Purdue as one of the three best teams west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Nearly a century later, Oberlin alumni and friends honored Heisman's memory by forming the John William Heisman Club. Created in 1978, its objective was to strengthen the entire intercollegiate athletics program. Almost one-quarter of a million dollars was raised over three years, with the initial emphasis directed at stabilizing the football program.
Through generous contributions, the members of the Heisman Club have endowed the football program for 10 years and supported the athletics program in general by endowing two coaching positions, one for a women's and one for a men's intercollegiate sport, for three years each. These positions have continued since 1981 with general college funding.
In 1985, Heisman Club members voted to transfer responsibility for the Club and its activities from the Development Office to the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, shifting its focus from just fund raising to include a wider range of services. The Heisman Club is now a permanent organization of alumni and friends interested in supporting athletics in the Oberlin tradition.
The Club is managed by an 11-member board of directors elected by the membership for rotating terms. The board acts on behalf of the Heisman Club on all matters of policy.
Mission Statement
We believe that Oberlin should: (1) provide an opportunity for athletes to pursue excellence in their sports along with their academic studies, (2) provide a physical education and wellness program for all Oberlin students, regardless of their ability, and (3) compete successfully with other schools in recruiting superior students for whom athletics or physical education are an important part of their lives. We realize that, at Oberlin, athletics will always play a complementary role to academics. At the same time, we know that athletics can have a profound and lasting impact on our students, particularly those who strive for excellence in their sports and balance in their lives.
The Heisman Club’s mission is to help Oberlin achieve these goals by:
*
Funding projects that support the athletics program in ways that are not covered by the athletics department’s
normal budget.
* Encouraging members of the Heisman Club actively to support the Club and, through the Club, athletics
at Oberlin.
* Enhancing the stature of athletes at Oberlin by providing recognition for their accomplishments.
If you have any comments about the Heisman Club or its mission, or suggestions for specific projects that the Club might undertake, please contact the current president at
gbsmithjr@hotmail.com
