ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Athletics family is mourning the loss of Coach Dennis Schroeder. Coach Schroeder went home to Heaven on Friday, November 19^th. He was 87 years old.

There was nobody who loved and supported Eagle athletics more than Coach Schroeder. When Dennis started with Northwestern in 1973 he was a professor and coach for the Eagles (baseball and basketball). Additionally, Coach Schroeder has the distinct honor of being the first Sports Information Director in school history. Dennis Schroeder had an enormous impact on the lives of countless students at Northwestern.

One of the many lives Coach Schroeder impacted is current UNW Athletic Director, Dr. Matt Hill. "My life has been incredibly influenced by Coach Schroeder", Dr. Hill said. "As a student work study freshman he took me under his wing and taught me all the ins and outs of athletics. He encouraged me to stay in the industry, which I have done for 22 plus years. I will miss his weekly calls and encouragement. There hasn't been a bigger Eagle fan than Dennis Schroeder!"

Coach Schroeder had a long tenure at Northwestern, serving students for 26 years. Despite retiring in 1999, Dennis remained a loyal and constant follower of Eagle Athletics. Inside the Ericksen Center, if one of the office phones would ring, there was a good chance the caller on the other side was Coach Schroeder. All the way up to the week of his passing, Dennis was making calls to the Ericksen Center checking in on Eagle Athletics.

One of the frequent receivers of these calls was Head Men's Basketball Coach and Associate Athletic Director, Tim Grosz. "I am going to miss my weekly conversations with Coach", Coach Grosz said. "He loved Northwestern Athletics and our basketball program. Coach Schroeder set a great example of faithfully serving the Lord and others."

Calling the staff inside the Ericksen Center weekly is just one of the many examples of Coach Schroeder's loyalty and dedication to Eagle athletics. In the 26 years that Dennis Schroeder served as UNW's Sports Information Director, he attended every Eagle football game and all but one basketball game (the game he missed was to attend his son's wedding). He witnessed the first 244 football games in Northwestern history, and worked 445 consecutive basketball games before his streak was snapped. He then followed that up with a separate streak of 289 straight basketball contests. Dennis Schroeder accomplished so many impressive things in his life and his college athletics career but his most impressive accomplishment is that in 38 years of education, he never missed a day of work. Coach Schroeder's hard work, dedication, and loyalty was truly inspirational to everybody in Eagle Athletics.

Prior to coming to Northwestern, Coach Schroeder served in the Navy. While serving in 1956, he met his wife Joan. They would get married in 1957 and have two children (Jeff and Kris) who would both graduate from Northwestern. When Coach Schroeder left the Navy and moved back to Minneapolis, he graduated from Augsburg College before teaching and coaching at high schools in Russell, MN and Spring Grove, MN.

Billy Aune has served in various different roles in UNW's Athletic Department for over thirty years. Coach Aune had the pleasure of playing for and coaching alongside Coach Schroeder. Despite becoming a peer, Coach Aune still refers to Dennis Schroeder as "coach". "Coach Schroeder (which is what I called him all these years because he earned the title) is going to be greatly missed", Coach Aune said. "I was able to play for him and then coach with him until his retirement from NWC. He and Joan took in so many players over the years and treated them like their own sons during his time at Northwestern. Coach was an incredible example for me to learn from and work alongside. We both had a passion for golf and shared many, many rounds played in the upper Midwest on our trips to work those Saturday football games! What great memories. So thankful for men like Coach Schroeder who led Northwestern in those early years and passed on the torch to those that followed. Love you Coach, you will be missed!"

Dennis Schroeder was recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America for his 25 years of service, and was inducted into the Northwestern College (now University of Northwestern) Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coach Schroeder was an inspiring man and is truly an Eagle legend. Thank you for everything, and rest in peace Coach Schroeder.