Greenville, SC (10/24/12) - The NCCAA National Office is saddened to learn that Norm Wilhelmi (86), aka “Ole Coach”, one of the founders of the NCCAA, passed away in his sleep peacefully Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. The NCCAA is grateful for Norm’s faithful and continued support to the association throughout our 45 year history. He leaves a mark on society that will only be fully seen in Heaven.
Upon starting the NCCAA, Norm served as the first President of the association. Norm authored a book
The Sweet Smell of Pine (1993, Pine Board Press) and coached almost every sport throughout his career. He hosted a radio show for many years that highlighted Christian college sports. Norm is an inaugural member of the NCCAA Hall of Fame, class of 1991, and the NCCAA has an award co-named in his honor along with E.C. Haskell, the first NCCAA Executive Director. The Wilhelmi-Haskell Stewardship Award honors those who, over a period of years, have exhibited dedicated work and loyal support of the NCCAA program and ministry. Norm is also a World War II veteran who fought in the South Pacific and returned to earn his degree at NCCAA member Taylor University. He went on to serve as coach and athletic director at The King's College (NY) and Montreat College (NC).
NCCAA Executive Director Dan Wood expresses his thoughts about Norm:
“At least once a month, the phone would ring and we all knew it was Norm by the way the person who answered the call would light up. Norm would ask for 'The Big Cheese' or 'The Head Honcho' and the reason for the call was always the same - he simply wanted to see how things were going and to encourage our staff to 'keep doing good.' Each time I hung up from our 'chats', I felt I had spent time with Christ himself. Norm was the consummate energy giver and I will miss our chats and lunches a great deal.”
Norm and his wife, Eunice, lived in Montreat, NC for many years following his retirement and called it “The Vestibule of Heaven”. He has now crossed that threshold and is celebrating in Heaven.
Services for Norm will be held Saturday, October 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the
Gaither Chapel (310 Gaither Circle, Montreat, NC) on Montreat College's campus. Internment will be Monday, October 29 (time TBA) at the Veteran's Cemetery in Swannanoa, NC. Please keep the Wilhelmi family in your prayers, especially in the sudden and unexpected loss of a great father, grandfather and husband. For more information on Norm's life, [
click here].