Club Presidents Through the Years Current Board of Directors

2010 - Roxy Eaton 2009 - Jill Witzenburg 2008 - Robert Cantrell 2007 - Richard Dunham 2006 - Hank Wieferich 2005 - Harriett Dean-Kennedy 2004 - Rev. John Folkers 2003 - David McCardel 2002 - Ron McNeill 2001 - John Barkham 2000 - Dave Kaiser 1999 - Gary Mugnolo 1998 - Roxy Eaton 1997 - John West 1996 - Rick Audas 1995 - Gary Thomas 1994 - Earl Stevens 1993 - Tom Westgate 1992 - Robert Popp 1991 - John Findley 1990 - Hon. Tom Brennan, Jr. 1989 - Marsha McCoy-Pfister 1988 - Tom Chirgwin 1987 - Dave Marvin 1986 - Gaylord Krebs 1985 - A. Dean Watkins 1984 - Doug Smith 1983 - Duane Vernon 1982 - Richard Letts 1981 - Chuck King 1980 - Carl Bollman 1979 - Wally Dobler

1978 - Jim Miers 1977 - Phil Irion 1976 - Bruce Black 1975 - Rod Causie 1974 - Gene Scott 1973 - Jack Hornbeck 1972 - Roger Boettcher 1971 - Archie Fuller 1970 - Larry Fowler 1969 - Archie Fuller 1968 - Jim Reutter 1967 - O. E. Hartley 1966 - Steve Kras 1965 - Robert Shakleton 1964 - Louis Andrews, Jr. 1963 - Rev. Msgr. John Slowey 1962 - Maury Mayer 1961 - George Harris 1960 - James Anderton 1959 - Gil Haley 1958 - Donald Stirm 1957 - George Guerre 1956 - Ted England 1955 - Jack Draper 1953 & 1954 - Clarence Lock 1952 - Ed Hacker 1951 - Walter Graff 1950 - William Porter, Jr. 1949 - J. J. Rodin 1947 & 1948 - Glenn Sanford 1946 - Joseph Gwinn

The Downtown Coaches Club was organized in 1946 by a goup of local businessmen whose primary objective was to encourage and support the athletic programs at Michigan State College and the interscholastic athletic programs for the schools in Lansing, East Lansing and vicinity. It was the same year Clarence "Biggie" Munn took over as head football coach at Michigan State.

The name of the Club was derived from the location of its meetings--- in downtown Lansing at the Olds Hotel, what today is the George Romney Building. The Club's first president was Joseph Gwinn (see list at right). The Club held regular luncheon meetings and honored players-of-the-week, culminating in the spring with an all-sports banquet at which special awards were presented to outstanding players and teams participating in six different sports.

As local sports programs were expanded in the 1960s, it became difficult for the Club to maintain its wide range of interests, so the Club's focus changed to supporting football programs only. In 1986, the NCAA ruled that awards to high school athletes were "improper inducements," making it improper to honor local talent as stipulated in the Club's original objectives. The By-laws were amended, and the Downtown Coaches Club became the "Official Booster Club for MSU Football." To this day, the primary purpose of the Club remains to support the head coach, coaching staff and the football program at MSU.

The Downtown Coaches Club presents annual awards to the Players of the Year who demonstrated team leadership and had the most significant performances as selected by the team's coaching staff. Additionally, the Club presents the Spartan Spirit Award and Vandervoort Memorial annually for outstanding support to MSU and community sports programs.

The Club's commitment to excellence in education for the Michigan State student-athlete is exemplified by its annual donations to the Spartan Fund (formerly called the Ralph Young Fund) through which audiovisual improvements have been made in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center. Through the years the Club has donated more than $500,000 to the Spartan Fund and is the leading individual contributor to the fund. Additionally, the sale of 50/50 raffle tickets at home football game allows the Club to assist the fund-raising efforts of the non-revenue producing sports programs at MSU and annual contributions to the MSU Spartan Marching Band.

Through the Club's excellence in education program, we provide home game tickets to elementary students in the mid-Michigan area who demonstrate academic achievement and a commitment to community involvement.