A Coach You’ve Probably Never Heard of: Pete Fredenburg

Coach Pete Fredenburg has been the only coach the Crusaders of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor have ever had. After starting the UMHB in 1998, it took Fredenburg just four years to take his team to the NCAA Division III playoffs and just five years to guide the Crusaders to an American Southwest Conference Championship. In only the seventh season of UMHB football, Fredenburg had his team playing in the Division III National Championship game.

As the only head coach in the school’s history, Fredenburg has compiled a 13-year record of 121-32. Last fall, UMHB completed an undefeated regular season, but lost in the Division III playoffs to Wesley and finished 12-1. The Cru has earned eight trips to the playoffs under his tenure and were ASC Champions for six straight seasons, 2005-2010. The Crusaders have advanced to the second round of the playoffs for seven straight years. Fredenburg has coached nine AFCA All-Americans, 215 All-Conference players, and 78 Academic All-Conference selections.

Fredenburg began his career as a high school coach in Texas and had stops at Canyon High School, New Braunfels, and Giddings. He had a thirteen-year career at Baylor as both defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Fredenburg then moved on to LSU for a year, and, before coming to UMHB, he was the DC at Louisiana Tech for three years. Among the honor he’s received over the years:

·    Southwest Conference Defensive Coach of the Year – 1990
·    American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year – 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008
·    AFCA Region III Coach of the Year – 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007

Coach Fredenburg was recently elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association. Honored by American Football Monthly in 2002, he was named the Division III National Coach of the Year Runner-Up