Hall of Fame
An exemplary coach and role model, Frank "Muddy"
Waters is one of the most respected coaches in
Michigan football history. Muddy's tireless
efforts resulted in one of the nation's most
powerful and respected college programs. At
Hillsdale his teams were nationally ranked twelve
times, and from 1953-57, Hillsdale won 34 games in
a row, a Division II record. His teams earned trips
to the playoffs twice and played in the 1957 Holiday
Bowl. Waters was selected NAIA Coach of the Year in
1957, the same year Hillsdale was recognized by the
Washington D.C. Touchdown Club as the nation's
outstanding small college team. In 1973 Hillsdale's
football stadium was named Frank Waters Stadium.
In 1974 Waters began building a football program at
Saginaw Valley State College. The next year they
were recognized as a varsity team and by 1979 he had
led them to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference championship. That year he was selected
Michigan Coach of the Year, marking the eighth time
in his illustrious career that he won the award. He
concluded his coaching career with a three-year stint
at Michigan State and was later inducted into the NAIA
and Hillsdale College Athletic Halls of Fame.
Outside of coaching, Waters remained very involved in
the game of football. He was a four-time chairman of
the NAIA Football Advisory Committee, and was
president of the NAIA Football Coaches Association.
