The stadium that bears Ron Schipper’s name now features his likeness.
A 7-foot bronze statue of Central College’s iconic College Football Hall of Fame coach was revealed at the Heritage Plaza inside Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. Schipper was head football coach at Central from 1961-96, posting winning records in all 36 seasons.
The idea for the recognition came from John Edwards, a 1972 Central grad and long-time athletics administrator at the college who retired in 2015, played for Schipper and was on his coaching staff for 24 years. Edwards saw Hanlon’s display at an NCAA convention nine years ago.
“We didn’t have the dollars available back then so it got put on the back burner for a while,” Edwards said. “But when we received some resources that made it viable, it moved ahead.”
On top of a pair of lead gifts, additional dollars were donated by numerous former Central football players, assistant coaches, cheerleaders and staff members, including, most prominently, members of the school’s 1974 NCAA Division III championship squad, spearheaded by team captain Al Dorenkamp, who later served as the college’s athletics director.
Edwards said Schipper was a guiding force in his life and for many others as well.
“Coach Schipper built a very successful program, but this is about much more than how many football games he won,” Edwards said. “What made him special were the relationships he had with his players and, really, with anyone who came in contact with him.”
The statue is based on a photo from a 1993 game and depicts Schipper with his hands on the shoulders of a player after the player came off the field.
Edwards said Schipper’s 36-year mantra of wanting his players to be a “student, athlete and gentleman” is embodied in the statue.