| Â George Acker |
 | | | Hometown:
Dixon (IL) | | | Position:
Football/Basketball/Tennis | | | Experience:
1948-52 | | | |
Best-known offensive guard-turned-tennis-coach in U.S.A. Three-sport Northern Illinois man with varsity letters in football (3) and tennis (3), plus All-Century Team votes on gridiron and hardwood. Two-time NIU Hall of Famer and member of three halls of fame. Co-captained 9-0 Hall of Fame IIAC football champs as senior for coach George "Chick" Evans (1951). Voted on All-Decade Team (1950s) during Huskie football Centennial (1999). Lettered at OG as three-year regular (1949-51). Tabbed NIU tennis captain at No. 1 singles as junior and senior. Earned tennis letters (1950-52). Played JV basketball as frosh (1948-49). Received votes on All-Century cage unit (2000-01). Wore many "hats" at Kalamazoo College. Inducted into ITA (1994) and KC (1998) HOFs. Led Hornet netters to seven NCAA Division III team crowns (1976, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1991-93), plus six national singles titles and three in doubles during 35-year career (1959-93). Captured 35 straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association team titles, posted 537-231-2 won-lost-tie record in duals (209-1 in MIAA), tutored 38 All-America picks, and 19 loop MVPs. Named NCAA Division III Coach of Year (1982, 1991), plus Division III Coach of Decade (1980s). Served as Kalamazoo grid aide (1959-68), head wrestling coach (1959-72), and men's cross-country boss (1986-88). Received KC's highest faculty award for "outstanding teaching (1986)." Family honored by both WTA (1973) and USLTA (1974). Grew up four blocks from Ronald Reagan's home in Dixon (IL).
