Longtime Kennedy Coach Herkelman dies

CEDAR RAPIDS - The scoreboard read '29” at bat, signed baseballs sat on the stone backstop and a shirt hung with Bill Herkelman's regular quotes.

The shrine memorialized Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Hall of Fame baseball coach and retired math teacher, who died Friday after complications from a stroke.

Kennedy Activities Director Aaron Stecker confirmed that Herkelman, a Cougars assistant, suffered a stroke Thursday and was transported to University of Iowa Hospitals later that evening. Herkelman was in the dugout for Kennedy's 18-1 substate final win over Cedar Falls in four innings Wednesday night.

Herkelman, 77, was one of only three head coaches in Kennedy's baseball history, serving as an assistant on the original coaching staff in 1967. He was head coach from 1977-92 and then return as an assistant to his successor Bret Hoyer in 2004. The Cougars have posted winning records in all but four seasons over about 50 years.

'I've referred to him as the Godfather of Kennedy baseball,” Hoyer said in a phone interview Friday with The Gazette. 'We are just trying to continue what he established.”

Herkelman, a prep baseball player who played basketball at Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa), compiled more than 300 career wins, leading Kennedy to state tournaments in 1980 and 1983.

Despite stepping away from coaching, he couldn't be separated from baseball. Rod Schulte, an all-state left-hander for the Cougars, was a junior on Herkelman's last squad as a head coach. During his senior season, and in following years as an umpire, Schulte recalled him standing along the fence line to watch games.

'He was very knowledgeable about the game,” Schulte said. 'He loved it. It was a big part of his life. He cared about it being played the right way.”

More than the impact he made on players in the field, he left an impression on many of his players that carried off it. Herkelman promoted the many parallels between life and baseball.

'Herk lived his life right and coached baseball right,” Hoyer said. 'He hoped his players would emulate the right choices that he exemplified.”

Herkelman remained approachable to many former players. He still maintained a strong rapport with players and welcomed friendly banter.

'He always cared about his kids,” said Schulte, a Chicago Cubs fan that traded barbs with Herkelman, a Cardinals fan. 'Not only did he coach us the game of baseball, but it was about life, too. He was very well-respected.”

Former Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Harold 'Pinky” Primrose recalled Herkelman's contributions to the sport.

'Bill was a good baseball man, very dedicated to the game,” Primrose said. 'Those are the guys you wanted involved.”

Hoyer said Herkelman was artful with conversation. The skill was evident on road trips back home after competition, where he dissected the baseball contests and analyzed all the crucial moments.

'He absolutely loved replaying games on the bus ride home after games,” Hoyer said. 'He'd talk through it, all the big plays, big pitches, things the kids did and I'm going to miss it.”

Stecker recalled the presence Herkelman commanded, causing people to hang on his every word, regardless of the subject. Stecker said Herkelman had a genuine and unique character.

'One of the greatest things about him is no matter how bad the previous day was he would show up with the same passion to the next day,” Stecker said. 'His purpose every day was to make them better.”

In June 2014, the Kennedy baseball program recognized him, naming the Cougars diamond 'Herkelman Field” including a sign at the entrance and a centered stone in the backstop that had his name.

Many former players and acquaintances showed up for the ceremony. Herkelman, one to deflect attention away from himself, was honored.

'It's something that is overwhelming,” Herkelman said between the games of that doubleheader sweep of Iowa City West. 'I don't know if there are words for it or not, but it's really nice.”

Schulte said that Herkelman was a passionate teacher as well. He said Herkelman was always available for help, dropping what he was doing to help a student fully understand a subject or assignment.

'He meant a lot to everybody,” Schulte said. 'As much time as he spent over at Kennedy, he touched a lot of people's lives.”

The Gazette's Jeff Johnson contributed to the article.

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