"Wild Bill" Lundberg's Farmhouse 5km

March 14, 2002

This Saturday, Hillsdale will be honoring one of its local heroes while supporting a great cause. The "Wild Bill" Lundberg Farmhouse 5km race/walk and barbeque will be take place to benefit St. Anthony's Family Center.

Coach Lundberg has coached 25 Conference Track and CC championship teams. He helped produce 185 Academic and Athletic All-Americans and 12 National Champions. Paul Aufdemburge, one of Michigan greatest runners and a star at Hillsdale, had nothing but praise for his former coach. "Bill knows how to develop athletes. He doesn't burn them out. He listens to them, respects their input and helps them as a person outside of the athletic arena."

Gary Wolfram, an Economics professor at Hillsdale and top Michigan Master's runner often trains with Bill and his cross country squad. Wolfram credits Lundberg's ability to develop relationships with his runners and their parents as a huge asset in his recruiting. "The parents know that Bill will take a genuine interest in their kid and also follows through with them on any help that they may need."

Lundberg's own success as an athlete and product of Jackson's Lumen Christi HS (Class of 72) has given him credibility. It was Lundberg's decision to run for the University of Kansas that changed his life forever. Through the influence of Olympic Silver Medallist and mile world record holder Jim Ryan, Bill became involved in the Campus Crusade For Christ and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It has a big impact on how he conducts his life and his relationships with God, his family, friends and athletes.

While at Kansas, Lundberg won the Big Eight Conference Track Championship in the steeplechase and placed sixth in the National Championships earning him All-American status. He ran the U.S. Olympic trials in 1976 and 1980. He placed 5th in '76. In 1980 he was in position to medal with two laps to go but fell at the water jump and ruptured his Achilles tendon. He left the track on a stretcher and never competed in the steeple again.

After graduation, he became the youngest head coach in the nation when he returned home to coach cross country and track at Jackson Community College. Unfortunately, the program was later dropped and Lundberg had to find another position. He was an assistant at Eastern Michigan before becoming Hillsdale's head coach in 1985. His success earned him NAIA National coach of the year in 1994 and NCAA divisional coach of year in 2000.

Lundberg said he is accustomed to being part of a big close-knit family. He is one of seven and now shares home with wife Sharon and three children, Steven (16), Kate (14) and Thomas (11), all of whom love sports.

Two of Bill's athletes, Dave Pressgrove and Johnathan Nikkila, who are also editors-in-chief of the Hillsdale Collegian, wanted to something special for him before they graduated. This weekend they want it "to be a great day to be a Charger" and plan to honor Lundberg and also help serve the food and utility needs of low-income families in the community.

For more information: March 16, 10 am. The Farmhouse at 1371 Mauck Rd. Hillsdale, Call 517 439-0397 or visit the web site: www.hillsdale.edu/chargers/mens/track

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