When you hear the name Harold E. Niedermeyer, think of ‘Niede’ as the athletic counterpart to English Renaissance man Sir Thomas More. While More (1478-1535) specialized in philosophy, law and politics; Niedemeyer concentrated on coaching basketball, basketball, football and track at Coronado High School.

In recognition of his efforts, Niedermeyer is being inducted into the California Interscholastic Federation, San Diego Section Hall of Fame Nov. 16 at 6:30 pm at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego. Niedermeyer was well into his 90’s when he passed away in early 1996.

Known today by most Coronadoans as the man whose name is on the football stadium at CHS, the diminutive Niedermeyer (estimated as standing between 5-6 and 5-9 by his former players) was a career educator. "He was at Coronado for 40 years and never missed a day of school," said Islander Head Football Coach Bud Mayfield. "He was an assistant football coach for years and then a head football coach for years. By all accounts he was a terrific guy."

After graduating from Redlands University, Niedermeyer started his coaching career at Coronado in 1931, guiding the basketball team to an 8-2 record, the baseball team to an 8-6 record, while simultaneously coaching the track team. As head coach of the Coronado football team from 1938-1951, Niede compiled a record of 62-49, which included 10 winning seasons and four league titles. In the 1941 season, Coronado outscored their opponents 172-12 on their way to the league title.

In basketball, Niedermeyer compiled a 13-year overall record of 100-57, winning 64 per cent of his games. In a three year period from 1939 to 1941, Coronado posted records of 13-4, 20-3, and 9-9, while winning or tying for the league title each year.

Won-loss records don’t really define Niedermeyer as a coach or a person. Bill Jepson (CHS ’46), who along with his brother Peter Jepson (CHS ’47), Carleton Joy, Jr. (CHS ’47), and John Minchin (CHS ’48), petitioned the Coronado Unified School District in 1998 to name the football field at the new Blumenthal Sports Complex after their former coach. "I thought he was one of the greatest coaches we ever had in Coronado," said Jepson, a retired Navy Captain. "I was just on the varsity team my senior year, and I really liked Niede. I played linebacker and center in 1945. Those were the days when we were all iron men and played both ways.

We were in a war-time league that included San Diego and Hoover. Sweetwater High School had 5,000 kids and five varsity teams. La Jolla was closest to us (in size). They had 900 kids and we had 350. Coach Niedermeyer was working with a very small number of guys who were big enough to make the varsity and he had quite a challenge. I can’t say anything bad about him."

Jepson recounted a story about one of his classmates, Ray Turnipseed. "Ray was a star athlete, a track guy. He got the nickname ‘Nick’ because Niede could never remember his first name. Ray was stuck with that nickname for the rest of his life."

Ron Nixon, a former coach and teacher at Coronado remembered Niedermeyer in much the same manner. "He was a good teacher, or at least I thought he was. He was a heck of a coach, or else he wouldn’t be getting the award he’s getting. He was quite a bit older than I was. He was good friends with Joe Corrin, who owned a drugstore where Mexican Village was. He and Niedermeyer were good friends. Being around those two guys was a lot of fun. Niedermeyer was just a great guy. I didn’t know anyone that didn’t like him."

The souvenir program compiled by Vicki Beaubien for the dedication ceremony of the Blumenthal Sports Complex in 1995 included an exchange of correspondence between Bill "Bodo’ Davidson (CHS ’47) and Niedermeyer. In a letter dated July 15, 1987, Davidson wrote in part: "You must feel extremely gratified and fulfilled with your life to know of the profound influence that you have had on literally thousands of people. As Bob Patterson said at a time when he was being shot at in Korea, and his life was in great danger, he was thinking of things that you had said and the values you had instilled in him as a teenage boy. His last earthly thought could have been of your words. I too, as a young boy living with my grandfather in the Hotel Del, looked upon you as a father. The things you taught, not just the mechanics of sports, but the ethical and spiritual values, have always stayed with me. Your deportment on the field and the principles you espoused…were deeply imbedded in many young minds as you protected the welfare of your young charges.

No matter how grave the situation appeared to be, you always had your sense of humor and smile, which assured everyone that all was well and would turn out okay. With the hundreds of boys and girls that you guided into adulthood, the influence had to be like a wave effect, carrying through to their children and influencing literally thousands of lives. No Coach, you don’t have to wait for your players to eulogize you at a funeral…for we do it every day as we successfully meet life’s challenges…When I say "Coach," there is only one coach. You will always have our love and gratitude."

August 25, 1987, Niedermeyer returned the letter to Davidson, which included the following: "The players in your generation were a unique blend of body and soul that made the engine go… In your letter, you will note, your thoughts did not center on the games won or lost. Nobody cares, it’s forgotten. The emphasis was on friendship and building. The camaraderie we had! Believe me it was a two-way street. I learned and retained from you as much, or more, than you learned from me. And I cherished all of it. The values that were taught then would probably be ‘corny’ now. This is a sophisticated age. We may have forgotten the motto, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.’

Coming from the hot grain fields of Kansas, in the belly of this great nation of ours, and sweating long hours to harvest the crops, perhaps has given my generation a different outlook. You guys worked hard and long, which added to your success. As I analyze it, the building blocks were fair play, dedication, attitude and hard work… fair play became my philosophy and one of the keys.

Remember that two of our mottoes were, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going,’ and ‘A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins.’ All of these little things have become part of your personality and success.

I went into coaching because I believed I could build character. Perhaps I have been successful. At least it makes me feel that way when I read letters like the one I received from you. I am so happy that I have a part in your God-given success."

In addition to coaching, Niedermeyer also at various times served as Coronado’s athletic director, the chairman of the physical education department, and the athletic department historian. At one time he was also in charge of the adult education program at Coronado High School.

Humorous quotes from past yearbooks include a rather back-handed compliment to the CHS athletes of yore. "The coaching of Coronado’s athletic teams was most efficiently handled by Harold Niedermeyer, director of athletics and Coach Wesley Hooper. Despite a dearth of natural athletes and the smallest student body in the league, the Coronado teams were victorious in more than half their games and even won the championship banners in tennis and "B’ track."

Another yearbook quote provided insight into the challenges Niede faced. "Coach Niedermeyer will never be adequately thanked for his untiring work in whipping his slow starters into shape to wind up a very successful (basketball) season.

The 1933 basketball season, which found Coronado posting a 5-2 mark was commented upon in "The Poppy," the Coronado yearbook. "More than 50 boys derived the benefit of the splendid coaching of Coach Niedermeyer and his assistants, Ray Fifield and Don Needham. Each year basketball is becoming more popular with the students and towns-people. The Varsity championship of last year and the fine coaching of Coach Niedermeyer are no doubt responsible for this trend."

Basketball in the 1940’s had a different level of seriousness attached to it, as this quote from another yearbook issue attests. "Two major highlights that will long remain in the memories of the varsity boys this year are the departure for the armed services of Archie McAnally and Bill Daugherty after they had played some mighty fine ball at the beginning of the season. Coach Niedermeyer’s traditional handshake with all of the boys at the close of the season is a binding tie in athletics that seldom breaks."

Whether Hal Niedermeyer was a Hall of Fame coach, a respected long-time educator, character builder or respected administrator, he was truly Coronado High School’s ‘Man for All Seasons.’ His pending CIF Hall of Fame induction is well deserved.