Ken Kraft (Wrestling/Coach/Administrator, 1953-2004)

It would be hard to match the dedication and service that Ken Kraft gave to Northwestern University. After compiling a 38-7-2 record on the wrestling mat -- the fifth-best winning percentage in school history -- Kraft became Northwestern's head wrestling coach in 1957, a position he held until 1979. At the time of his induction, he was the program's winningest coach. Following the conclusion of his coaching career, Kraft was named an associate athletic director and he served in an administrative capacity for 24 years. As an athlete, he won the 167-pound Big Ten championship his senior year.

Perhaps his most significant contribution to the wrestling program was the founding of The Midlands Championships, the nation's top amateur wrestling event, which has been held every year since 1966 between Christmas and New Year's Day at NU's Welsh-Ryan Arena. For his contributions to Northwestern, and specifically the wrestling program, a new wrestling facility was built, which bears his name, the "Ken Kraft Wrestling Complex."

Kraft has a wealth of television experience, having served as an ABC commentator during the 1972 and '76 Olympics and for NBC during the 1980 Olympics, among others. He was also a founding member of the United States Wrestling Federation and served as its president from 1972-76.

In 1997, Kraft was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He died in October of 2020.