Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan (Football)
Herb Deromedi is recognized as one of the iconic figures in the history of the Mid-American Conference. The accomplishments of Herb Deromedi, both as a head football coach and administrator at Central Michigan as Director of Athletics, are impactful and impressive. Deromedi was head football coach at Central Michigan for 16 years from 1978-93, and then served the program as Director of Athletics for a 13 year span from 1994-2006.
Deromedi is the winningest football coach in the Mid-American Conference history with an overall record of 110-55-10. He posted a record of 90-39-9 in conference games, and the 90 conference wins also is a league record. Deromedi lead the Chippewas to MAC Championships in 1979, 1980 and 1990, and was named MAC Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1990. During his coaching career, he led Central Michigan to a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State in 1991 and a 24-20 win at Michigan State in 1992. He coached 71 All-MAC first team performers and seven players went on to NFL careers. Deromedi also served as the defensive coordinator on Central Michigan’s 1974 Division II national championship team.
Deromedi was a 2007 inductee into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame, one of only two MAC football coaches enshrined with this honor.
As Director of Athletics, Deromedi oversaw the $28 million renovation and expansion of Kelly/Shorts Stadium (football) in 1998 and construction of the Indoor Athletic Complex in 1999, the renovation of the CMU Softball Complex, now named the Margo Jonker Stadium), construction of the new Theunissen Stadium (baseball), relocation of the Lyle Bennett Track and construction of the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
Deromedi lead an athletic department that won the MAC Academic Achievement Award for the highest cumulative grade point average by a conference school eight times in a nine-year span, winning it outright in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 after sharing it in 1996-97.
Central Michigan teams captured 34 MAC Championships during Deromedi’s tenure as Director of Athletics—the most ever in any 10-year period in school history. After a school record six titles for Central Michigan in 2002-03, Chippewas teams won seven titles in 2003-04.
Deromedi is also a member of the Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame, Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Deromedi and his wife, Marilyn, have three children, David, Tom and Lori. The couple resides in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
