Kennedy legend Bill Herkelman dies
Bill "Herk" Herkelman, the beloved Kennedy High School teacher and baseball coach, died Friday morning at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after suffering a stroke on Thursday.
Herkelman was an iconic figure with the Kennedy baseball program for 36 years as a head coach and assistant coach and is a member of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The Kennedy High School field was named in his honor last year.
"He is the godfather of Kennedy baseball. That's probably all that needs to be said," Kennedy head coach Bret Hoyer said somberly Friday. "We'll try to carry on his legacy every year."
Herkelman compiled a 318-224 record as Kennedy's head coach from 1977 through 1992 with five Metro titles, two Mississippi Valley Conference titles and two trips to the state tournament.
He served as an assistant baseball coach at Kennedy from 1968 through 1976 before becoming the head coach. He returned to the coaching staff as one of Hoyer's assistants in 2005 and was in the dugout Wednesday night when the Cougars defeated Cedar Falls to make the Class 4A state tournament.
Last Updated on Friday, 24 July 2015 10:12