Former coach, professor dies

Robert Macholtz BS ’49, former Anderson University professor and coach, died March 26, 2003, in Florida. He was 78.

As a student at AU, Macholtz played baseball and basketball and majored in physical education. He returned to AU in the 1950s, and along with his brother, Jim BS ’51, Ernie Rangazas and later Gertrude Wunsch, built a high-caliber physical education and athletic program at the university. He worked as the athletic director and an associate professor of physical education. He coached baseball for three seasons and men’s basketball for 15 seasons. He took the Ravens to six Hoosier Conference basketball championships and in 1961 to the third round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament. He was named Coach of the Year four times in the Hoosier Conference.

Barrett Bates BS ’63, director of athletics at AU until his retirement this spring, played basketball under Macholtz in the 1960s and remained friends with the coach until his death.

“He led by example in his life,” says Bates. “I never saw him extremely angry the entire time I played basketball for him. He knew the mission of Anderson University, and I think he coached that way.”

Macholtz is survived by two sons, James ’70 and Steve, and two grandchildren.