Highlanders “Superfan”

In his inaugural address in 1976, President Daniel Chamberlain enumerated some of the primary tasks of Christian higher education. As a part of that list, he included this statement: “There must be time for physical activity so essential to sound emotional and physical health.” Houghton Magazine recently had the opportunity to speak with two of Houghton’s most successful coaches, E. Doug Burke and H. “Skip” Lord ’80 as they shared some of their memories of Dr. Chamberlain and the ways this particular task of Christian higher education was accomplished under his presidency.

Coach Burke, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame Coach and former men’s soccer coach and athletics director who helped launch Houghton’s intercollegiate athletic program, reflected that Dr. Chamberlain’s statement in his inaugural address wasn’t just a nice collection of words. “He followed through,” remarked Burke. “He was supportive of athletic programs, teams and athletes.”

Coach Lord, National Christian College Athletic Association Hall of Fame member, former women’s basketball and volleyball coach and athletic director and now National Director for Athletics Engagement serving in the Houghton Office of Advancement, noted that Dr. Chamberlain didn’t just support others in their pursuit of physical activity. Dr. Chamberlain modeled commitment to physical wellbeing, living out an active lifestyle throughout his thirty years of presidency.

Those who knew Dr. Chamberlain recognized him as an avid competitor. He could routinely be found in the racquetball courts in the Nielsen Physical Education Center—a building he helped see from conception to opening in January of 1980. Dr. Chamberlain would compete against anyone—friends, faculty, colleagues, board members, students—and when he was on the court the competition was fierce.

Coach Burke talked at length about President Chamberlain’s commitment to intercollegiate athletics and to student athletes. He wanted teams to be competitive and he wanted them to go on to postseason competition. In the days when Houghton competed in the NAIA and NCCAA, there funding wasn’t available to send students to post-season competition, but Dr. Chamberlain was always on the front lines of finding the resources to help teams get to tournaments. In 2012, Dr. Chamberlain was named to Houghton’s Athletics Hall of Honor for his support of the program.

Dr. Chamberlain’s commitment to physical activity wasn’t limited to intercollegiate play. In addition to his consistent appearances on the racquetball court, he was known to occasionally show up on an intramural athletics team—including All The President’s Men volleyball team in 1977-1978, led by Bob Kratzat ’80.* He was supportive of efforts to ensure physical activity remained part of Houghton’s core curriculum, prioritizing wellness and exposure to lifelong sports for all students. Dr. Chamberlain’s support of physical wellness even expanded to the community with the creation of a senior fitness class.

When the opportunity arose to invest in Houghton’s trails and build the ropes course, Dan saw the benefits. He supported Doris “Mabel” Nielsen ‘71 as she worked to build Houghton’s outdoor recreation program, including Highlander Wilderness Adventure, STEP and other predecessors to what Houghton knows today as EPIC Adventures.

Throughout President Chamberlain’s 30 years of service at Houghton, his verbal support of athletics and wellness aligned with his actions. The word that arose repeatedly in conversation with Coaches Burke and Lord was supportive. Dr. Chamberlain was the quintessential “Highlander Superfan.” More than that, he lived a life that exemplified what it meant to care well for the physical body and he invited others to join him.

*Thanks to Bob Kratzat for sharing this great tidbit on the Houghton University Facebook page in the tribute post to Dr. Chamberlain on June 3. 

Reflections from Dr. Matthew Webb, Director of Athletics

Dan Chamberlain’s commitment to athletic excellence continues to influence Houghton athletics. “Excellence for the Glory of God” is the motto of the Houghton athletic department, and although this did not come directly from Dan, the commitment to excellence is something Dan modeled and helped establish at the University. Our new Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex is a continuation of providing state of the art facilities both for our student athletes and community.

Striving for regular post-season play continues to be a goal for all our programs, and has recently been included in the new institutional strategic plan. So, not only is competitive excellence something that coaches and athletes prioritize, it is also prioritized from an institutional perspective, something Dan Chamberlain emphasized. The influence that coaches can have on student athletes is significant, and this was also something Dan understood. The athletic experience is a significant part of a student athlete’s time at Houghton, and it is important that the mentoring and culture that is created in each team is done well, thus the continued emphasis on coaching and team culture.