Eastern Michigan Athletics
Ron Oestrike Named to the 2017 MAC Hall of Fame Induction Class
3/9/2017 11:00:00 AM | Baseball, General
The late baseball coach will be elected into the hall of fame in May
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University baseball coaching legend Ron Oestrike will be inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame the league office announced Thursday, March 9. The 2017 MAC Hall of Fame Induction Class will be inducted Wednesday, May 31, during the MAC Honor's Dinner at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel.
The six inductees for 2017 are Jen Brown-Mascari (Ball State, field hockey), Dwight Gardner (Ohio, wrestling), Antonio Gates (Kent State, men's basketball), Betsy Kuhle (Western Michigan, women's tennis), Dan Majerle (Central Michigan, men's basketball) and Oestrike.
"It is only appropriate for our Conference to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these six individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "We are honored to welcome them to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame."
Oestrike becomes the eighth Eastern Michigan honoree into the MAC Hall of Fame joining: Hasely Crawford (Track & Field, 1991), Ron Johnson (Football, 1988), Mike Jones (Men's Swimming and Diving, 2016), Gordon Minty (Track & Field, 1994), Bob Owchinko (Baseball, 1992), Bob Parks (Men's Cross Country and Track and Field, 2015), and Bob Welch (Baseball, 1990).
A 1954 Eastern Michigan graduate, Oestrike was the University's head baseball coach for 23 years (1965-87), directing the baseball program to unprecedented heights and leading the team to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship in 1970, a runner-up spot in the 1976 NCAA College World Series, a fifth-place finish in the 1975 NCAA College World Series, four MAC championships, and five NCAA Regional appearances on the way to a 657-508-8 overall record.
Oestrike began his college career as a two-sport standout at EMU, lettering in both baseball and football. After graduating 1954, Oestrike went on earn a master's degree from the University of Michigan, serve a two-year tour with the U.S. Army and become a high-school football coach at Trenton High School. Oestrike returned to Eastern Michigan in 1963 and spent the next 23 years developing the Eagles baseball program into one of the very finest in the nation.
During his tenure, Oestrike coached six All-Americans and 22 All-MAC First Team members. The coaching legend was also tabbed as NCAA Regional Coach of the Year ('75, '76, '78, '81) and MAC Coach of the Year ('75, '76, '78, '82) four times each throughout his career. He developed numerous future Major League Baseball players including: Bryan Clutterbuck, Glenn Gulliver, Chris Hoiles, John Martin, Bob Owchinko, Ron Rightnowar, Pat Sheridan, Bob Welch, and Mickey Weston along with long-time manager Terry Collins.
His 1970 team produced a record of 41-11 en route to a NAIA National Championship. As the program made the transition from NAIA to the NCAA, it wasted no time getting to the upper echelon of the NCAA.
In 1975, Eastern Michigan posted a 37-20-1 mark to capture a MAC championship before advancing to the College World Series for the first time in school history. One year later, Eastern Michigan built off the success to make a return trip Omaha. In arguably Eastern Michigan's all-time best season, the team went 46-16 to collect another conference championship and advance to the finals of the College World Series, finishing runner-up to national champion Arizona.
Oestrike was singled out as the NCAA National Coach of the Year in 1976 by The Sporting News and went on to become the president of the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1985. He was inducted into the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 and was selected to the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1990.
Oestrike was preceded in death by Shirley, his wife of 55 years, and is survived by his five children, Jeffrey, Daniel, Elizabeth, Nancy and Matthew, and five grandchildren.
"The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is a testament to the achievements of those that have competed and served in this great Conference," added Steinbrecher.
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 87 individuals from 12 classes.
Tickets are available for the MAC Honor's Dinner on Wednesday, May 31, at 6 p.m. at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel. Individual tickets ($100 each) and a table of 10 ($950) are available for purchase. Contact Julie Kachner at the Mid-American Conference office at 216.566.4622.
The six inductees for 2017 are Jen Brown-Mascari (Ball State, field hockey), Dwight Gardner (Ohio, wrestling), Antonio Gates (Kent State, men's basketball), Betsy Kuhle (Western Michigan, women's tennis), Dan Majerle (Central Michigan, men's basketball) and Oestrike.
"It is only appropriate for our Conference to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these six individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "We are honored to welcome them to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame."
Oestrike becomes the eighth Eastern Michigan honoree into the MAC Hall of Fame joining: Hasely Crawford (Track & Field, 1991), Ron Johnson (Football, 1988), Mike Jones (Men's Swimming and Diving, 2016), Gordon Minty (Track & Field, 1994), Bob Owchinko (Baseball, 1992), Bob Parks (Men's Cross Country and Track and Field, 2015), and Bob Welch (Baseball, 1990).
A 1954 Eastern Michigan graduate, Oestrike was the University's head baseball coach for 23 years (1965-87), directing the baseball program to unprecedented heights and leading the team to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship in 1970, a runner-up spot in the 1976 NCAA College World Series, a fifth-place finish in the 1975 NCAA College World Series, four MAC championships, and five NCAA Regional appearances on the way to a 657-508-8 overall record.
Oestrike began his college career as a two-sport standout at EMU, lettering in both baseball and football. After graduating 1954, Oestrike went on earn a master's degree from the University of Michigan, serve a two-year tour with the U.S. Army and become a high-school football coach at Trenton High School. Oestrike returned to Eastern Michigan in 1963 and spent the next 23 years developing the Eagles baseball program into one of the very finest in the nation.
During his tenure, Oestrike coached six All-Americans and 22 All-MAC First Team members. The coaching legend was also tabbed as NCAA Regional Coach of the Year ('75, '76, '78, '81) and MAC Coach of the Year ('75, '76, '78, '82) four times each throughout his career. He developed numerous future Major League Baseball players including: Bryan Clutterbuck, Glenn Gulliver, Chris Hoiles, John Martin, Bob Owchinko, Ron Rightnowar, Pat Sheridan, Bob Welch, and Mickey Weston along with long-time manager Terry Collins.
His 1970 team produced a record of 41-11 en route to a NAIA National Championship. As the program made the transition from NAIA to the NCAA, it wasted no time getting to the upper echelon of the NCAA.
In 1975, Eastern Michigan posted a 37-20-1 mark to capture a MAC championship before advancing to the College World Series for the first time in school history. One year later, Eastern Michigan built off the success to make a return trip Omaha. In arguably Eastern Michigan's all-time best season, the team went 46-16 to collect another conference championship and advance to the finals of the College World Series, finishing runner-up to national champion Arizona.
Oestrike was singled out as the NCAA National Coach of the Year in 1976 by The Sporting News and went on to become the president of the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1985. He was inducted into the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 and was selected to the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1990.
Oestrike was preceded in death by Shirley, his wife of 55 years, and is survived by his five children, Jeffrey, Daniel, Elizabeth, Nancy and Matthew, and five grandchildren.
"The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is a testament to the achievements of those that have competed and served in this great Conference," added Steinbrecher.
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 87 individuals from 12 classes.
Tickets are available for the MAC Honor's Dinner on Wednesday, May 31, at 6 p.m. at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel. Individual tickets ($100 each) and a table of 10 ($950) are available for purchase. Contact Julie Kachner at the Mid-American Conference office at 216.566.4622.
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