Remembering Don Ohlms 53’

REMBERING COACH OHLMS

by David Nolda

November 29, 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of the passing of a true Chaminade legend and a shining example of Esto Vir.

Donald J. Ohlms came to Chaminade as a freshman in 1949. Over the next four years, he distinguished himself as both an outstanding athlete and a student leader. He played baseball, basketball, and football and served as the captain of the team his senior year. He was elected to several terms as a class officer, was a member of the band, wrote for the Cardinal & White – all while making the honor roll. At graduation, he was named Athlete of the Class and received the Babe Ruth Foundation Sportsmanship Award.

After Chaminade, Coach attended Washington University in St. Louis on a football scholarship where he learned the infamous “single wing” formation. After graduating from Washington University, he returned to Chaminade in 1960 as a teacher and varsity football coach. Over the next thirty-five years, Coach Ohlms wore many hats, including Athletic Director, Director of Admissions and coach of the football, track, basketball and swimming teams.

As coach of the varsity football team, he compiled a 123-65-5 record and reached the Missouri Class 3A title game in 1972. He also led the Red Devil swimming and diving team to the Missouri state championship in 1984. Based on his coaching efforts, Coach Ohlms was inducted into the Missouri State High School Football Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 1995. That same year, the football field at Chaminade was renamed as the Coach Don Ohlms ‘53 Field in his honor. For all that he meant to the Chaminade Family, the Alumni Board of Directors presented him with the Alumnus of the Year Award in 1999. To those involved with Chaminade athletics, Ohlms is our Knute Rockne, Bear Bryant, and Nick Saban. However, Coach wasn’t focused solely on athletics. He understood and exemplified the meaning of Chaminade’s motto, “Esto Vir.” Coach was a man of extraordinary intelligence and wisdom, a fierce competitor who was still able to maintain compassion, a very proud man who remained humble, and a man who never sought personal glory but chose to direct the attention to his players.

As former Chaminade teacher, coach and Athletic Director, Tom Fiala, said at the time of Coach Ohlms’ passing, “He was a second father to countless Chaminade students and taught them lessons that will serve them well throughout their lives. He never had to tell them the meaning of “ESTO VIR.” He simply showed them each day by the way he lived his life.” Ask any alumnus from 1960-1995, who played for or was taught by Coach Ohlms, and those words will still ring as true for them today as when Fiala said them twenty years ago.

Every football team he coached attended Mass before each game, took a knee before the Virgin Mary’s shrine, and said a “Hail Mary” immediately after each game. At his funeral, hundreds of Chaminade graduates took a knee before a shrine of the Virgin Mary and said one more “Hail Mary” -- not to the Queen of Victories, but for the man who had taught them so much both on and off the field.

As a fitting tribute to the man who always gave more than 100% and inspired all those with whom he came in contact to do the same, the family and friends of Coach Ohlms established The Donald J. Ohlms “Red Devil” Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship benefits a senior who, like Coach Ohlms, possesses the qualities of fairness, humility, honesty, discipline, teamwork, character, and commitment to Chaminade.

Chaminade’s first All-State football player, Gavin Woolley of the Class of 1969, wrote to Mrs. Joyce Ohlms, after Coach’s passing and shared that, “When my Dad passed away many years ago, my Mom was most appreciative that Coach came to the visitation. When talking with Mom about Coach, her comment was “now there was a football coach and all-around good man.” And a good man he was, much more than a coach or teacher, but a good man. Thanks to the Ohlms Family for sharing this special man so that we, too, could have the opportunity to become good men.”