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