2006 Crowley Award Winner
Keith Froelich
Okemos
Our 2006 Jim Crowley Memorial Award recipient, Keith Froelich, is a 1971 graduate of Portage Central High School, where he participated in football, wrestling, and track. He received a BA. from Alma College in 1975; while at Alma he participated in football all four years and received three letters, along with being named to the All Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and All National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic teams.
Keith did his student teaching at Alma High School in the fall of 1975 and was an assistant junior Varsity football coach at that time. He acquired his first teaching position at Southgate Aquinas High School in 1976 and for two years was a social studies teacher there and assisted in football, wrestling, and track. From 1977-79 he taught social studies and physical education and was the head track coach and defensive coordinator of varsity football at de LaSalle Collegiate High School. In 1979 he obtained his first head football coaching position at St. Mary’s of Redford High School where he also served as chair of the Social Studies department. 1982 found him moving to Okemos and taking the head football coaching position. Since 1982 he has served as a social studies teacher, chairman of the Physical Education/Health Department and, since 1995, Athletic Director of Okemos High’s large and very successful Athletic Department. In his twenty-one years as a head coach at Okemos “Fro” compiled a record of 130-64, along with eight league championships and five playoff appearances. Keith also served as the head or assistant track coach from 1982 to 1994.
“Fro” has served our association as a regional director, officer (MHSFCA president in 2001), and long time hospitality chair of the All-Star Committee. In the latter capacity he handles all of the hotel reservations when the MHSFCA is in Lansing, setting up rooms for the Board of Directors’ summer meeting, rooms for the parents of All-Star players and all the hospitality for the events of All-Star weekend. He is certainly one of the most responsible members of the Board of Directors in the history of the MHSFCA, an individual who does things in a quiet, but very organized and efficient manner.
In addition to the aforementioned work, our Keith is a past Head Coach of the
West All-Star team, a member of the Gatorade National Coaches Council, member of the
AFCA, regional director of the MIAAA, past member of the Detroit Free Press All State Board, has served on several MHSAA committees and has
been a presenter at many clinics, camps and conferences.
As you can readily see, our Coach Froelich is cut from the mold of Coach Jim Crowley; a
fine coach and family man, a tremendous leader of young men and a great example to his
school and community.
Keith’s wife of thirty years, Joanne, and grown children, Kyle and Kulin,
have every right to be most proud of his accomplishments