Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Former Players and Friends of Late Legendary Baseball Coach Dave Keilitz Create Memorial Fund
8/12/2026 6:00:00 AM | Baseball, General, Our Stories
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan University alumni and friends of the late longtime baseball coach and athletic director Dave Keilitz have announced the creation of a memorial fund to support the commission of a statue in his honor. Coach Keilitz passed away on July 15th, 2026 at the age of 83, just two weeks short of his next birthday.
Several lead gifts from alumni have already been made to the new Keilitz Memorial Statue Fund facilitated by the CMU Advancement office. The Executive Board of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) has also made a major pledge, and individuals are encouraged to make a tax-deductable charitable gift online at: https://ignite.cmich.edu/project/50305.
All funds raised above and beyond expenses to commission and construct the statue will go to the Dave & Sue Keilitz Family Endowment fund for CMU baseball. Nationally known sculptor J. Brett Grill has been commissioned to create the Keilitz sculpture.
"Dave was a special man and a genuine person with high ethics," said Ball State coach and ABCA Executive Board member Rich Maloney. "He made us all feel special, and that's a special gift Dave had. A statue is a great way to celebrate his career and life. I can't think of a better way to honor this man, because his legacy will live on."
"This statue is so appropriate, even for a humble guy like Dave Keilitz," said University of Cincinnati baseball coach and former CMU Head Coach Jordan Bischel. "Every person that walks around the CMU campus should have a little understanding of the positive influence coach had on not only CMU baseball but the entire community. It's obviously well deserved."
"The brilliant legacy of our coach, friend and mentor legend Dave Keilitz is deserving of a statue for display on campus. The life that he dedicated to our university, the community and to baseball is now for his family and all of us to honor and enjoy," said Perk Weisenburger, former CMU baseball player and 1980 team captain. "Over 20 former Keilitz era players made pledges at the celebration of life on Saturday. Tap (former Chippewa great and major league pitcher Kevin Tapani) and I encourage all former players, supporters of CMU and colleagues of Dave to join our efforts today in memorializing this amazing man."
Dave Keilitz became the CMU baseball head coach in 1971 and over the next 14 seasons his teams compiled a remarkable 456-203 record, with a winning season every year and capturing four Mid-American Conference Championships. Keilitz coached teams advanced to the NCAA national championship tournament six times.
In 1984, Dave Keilitz became Central Michigan's Director of Athletics where he guided all CMU teams for 10 years. Keilitz then became the Executive Director of the ABCA in 1994, where he served for 20 years. He was inducted into the coaches association Hall of Fame in 1989.
Several lead gifts from alumni have already been made to the new Keilitz Memorial Statue Fund facilitated by the CMU Advancement office. The Executive Board of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) has also made a major pledge, and individuals are encouraged to make a tax-deductable charitable gift online at: https://ignite.cmich.edu/project/50305.
All funds raised above and beyond expenses to commission and construct the statue will go to the Dave & Sue Keilitz Family Endowment fund for CMU baseball. Nationally known sculptor J. Brett Grill has been commissioned to create the Keilitz sculpture.
"Dave was a special man and a genuine person with high ethics," said Ball State coach and ABCA Executive Board member Rich Maloney. "He made us all feel special, and that's a special gift Dave had. A statue is a great way to celebrate his career and life. I can't think of a better way to honor this man, because his legacy will live on."
"This statue is so appropriate, even for a humble guy like Dave Keilitz," said University of Cincinnati baseball coach and former CMU Head Coach Jordan Bischel. "Every person that walks around the CMU campus should have a little understanding of the positive influence coach had on not only CMU baseball but the entire community. It's obviously well deserved."
"The brilliant legacy of our coach, friend and mentor legend Dave Keilitz is deserving of a statue for display on campus. The life that he dedicated to our university, the community and to baseball is now for his family and all of us to honor and enjoy," said Perk Weisenburger, former CMU baseball player and 1980 team captain. "Over 20 former Keilitz era players made pledges at the celebration of life on Saturday. Tap (former Chippewa great and major league pitcher Kevin Tapani) and I encourage all former players, supporters of CMU and colleagues of Dave to join our efforts today in memorializing this amazing man."
Dave Keilitz became the CMU baseball head coach in 1971 and over the next 14 seasons his teams compiled a remarkable 456-203 record, with a winning season every year and capturing four Mid-American Conference Championships. Keilitz coached teams advanced to the NCAA national championship tournament six times.
In 1984, Dave Keilitz became Central Michigan's Director of Athletics where he guided all CMU teams for 10 years. Keilitz then became the Executive Director of the ABCA in 1994, where he served for 20 years. He was inducted into the coaches association Hall of Fame in 1989.
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