1990 Jim Crowley Award Winner
Kalamazoo Area’s Bob Wyman
is Crowley Award Winner
By Larry Sellers, Crowley Award Chair, Traverse City St. Francis
The Jim Crowley Award is dedicated to the memory of the late Jim Crowley, former coach at Jackson Lumen Christi H.S. Jim was a great coach and dedicated family man who was tragically killed at the height of his career in 1984 at age 45.
Bob Wyman, this year’s recipient of the Crowley Award, is a 1944 graduate of Detroit Redford H.S. After spending 2 1/2 years in the Navy, Bob attended Wayne State where he started as a guard and linebacker for four years, and served as captain of the 1950 team. After his graduation in 1951 he coached football for 37 years at the high school and college levels. Bob’s collegiate stops included Wayne State University, Ball State, Western Michigan, and Kalamazoo College. Coach Wyman was the head coach at Kalamazoo Christian H.S., Detroit Henry Ford H.S., and Detroit Chadsey H.S. He has been an assistant at Detroit Northeastern, Portage Central, and Mattawan high schools. Bob is widely known for his expertise in the veer offense and is an extremely accomplished offensive line coach.
Coach Bob Wyman has lectured at our annual clinic and served on the MHSFCA Board of Directors for several years where he acted as chair of our placement committee. Bob was inducted into the MHSFCA Hall of Fame in 1987. Our 1990 recipient is, like Jim Crowley, a dedicated family man and an elder in his church. From his work as a coach at Division 1 schools through his work as a high school assistant Bob’s humility and dedication to football and the young men who play it is obvious.
Perhaps the most compelling reason for Bob Wyman’s selection as the Crowley Award winner for 1990 is that he has helped so many young coaches, and in the process many high school football programs, by getting them started in their careers. As an associate professor of physical education at Western Michigan University since 1974, and through his “Coaching Football” class, Bob has identified, recommended and placed many young men in local schools, thus aiding their development and helping Kalamazoo area schools fill their coaching needs. Four of Bob’s former assistants at Kalamazoo Christian, who got their first coaching jobs under Bob, are now coaching at the University of Miami (Florida), the University of Cincinnati, Albion College, and Kalamazoo College.
Our recipient is a coaches’ coach, he has long been a credit to the game of football. It is with great pleasure that we honor Bob Wyman as this year’s Jim Crowley Award winner.