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John Schael To Be Inducted Into The St. Louis Sports Hall Of Fame

John Schael To Be Inducted Into The St. Louis Sports Hall Of Fame
Posted: Sep 22, 2014

From Washington University Athletics

John Schael, who announced he would be retiring after 36 years as the Director of Athletics at Washington University in St. Louis, has been nominated for induction into the Class of 2014 of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.

The St. Louis Hall of Fame’s Annual Enshrinement Dinner will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis. 

“At the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame we are proud of the selection of John Schael into the "exclusive Club" of inductees," said St. Louis Sports HOF Founder/President and Washington U. alum Greg Marecek.  "My own sports career at Wash U. from 1968-1971 is testimony to the incredible progress athletics has made on the Danforth Campus.”

During Schael's 36 years at Washington University, the Bears athletic programs have won 19 NCAA Division III National Championships, 169 University Athletic Association (UAA) titles and made 181 NCAA appearances. The Washington University teams during his tenure have compiled a 70.4 winning percentage and amassed more than 5,600 wins. Under Schael's direction, Washington U. has also finished in the top-10 in the Learfield Director's Cup standings in each of the last 11 years.

Since coming to Washington University in 1978, Schael has been instrumental in the development of many features at Washington U., including the Gary and Rachel Sumers Recreation Center, scheduled to be complete in 2016. He was also influential in the additions of the McWilliams Fitness Center, the Washington University Hall of Champions, and the installation of UBU turf on Francis Field.

A native of Cleveland, Schael graduated from Euclid High School in 1962. He attended Miami University (Ohio) and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1966 after lettering four years in wrestling and one in baseball. Schael earned his master’s degree from Miami in administration and physical education in 1968. He was inducted into Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and Euclid High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

As a member of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame’s sixth class, Schael will be honored along with the following: Baseball: Chris Carpenter, Orlando Cepeda; Basketball/Volleyball: Kristin Folkl; Football: Gus Otto, Aeneas Williams; Hockey: Bob Plager, Brian Sutter; Officiating: Ed Hightower; Track and Field: Connie Price-Smith; Soccer: Taylor Twellman; Softball: Todd Joerling (Defiance, Mo.).