After fatal crash, ‘Coach Mike’ is being remembered in metro-east communities

Mike Kuhlmann was well-known in the Columbia-Waterloo area for many reasons: his ever-present smile, faithful volunteer service and his Special Olympics feats.

But there’s one title Kuhlmann was extremely proud of – Columbia High School Eagles football coach. He’d introduce himself as “Coach Mike” and would often be heard saying “this is my team,” many said.

“He loved the players more than he loved the game,” longtime friend Craig Laskowski said.

Kuhlmann, 66, died as a result of a car crash June 24 on Illinois 157 near Illinois 15. Kuhlmann was pronounced dead in the emergency room of Memorial Hospital at 12:40 p.m., according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

In the wake of his unexpected death, Monroe County is reflecting on Kuhlmann’s impact – especially during the 2018-2019 season when he served as an assistant coach.

“That was a special time for us,” former head coach Scott Horner said.

Kuhlmann connected with the Eagles through Laskowski, who was then the chief program officer at Human Support Services. Laskowski also helped coach quarterbacks for the Eagles. Knowing Kuhlmann’s love for the game and coaching, Laskowski reached out to Horner to see if they could give Kuhlmann an opportunity. Horner did not hesitate, Laskowski said.

Horner did not hesitate, Laskowski said.

Kuhlmann quickly cemented himself as a fixture in the Columbia football scene. Dressed in the same gear as the other coaches, he was always cheering his team on from the sidelines, offering high-fives and words of encouragement and even called a few plays one game.

One of those, Laskowski said, was when the Eagles scored a 45-yard touchdown.

After every win, Kuhlmann would bring out his guitar and treat the team to his own renditions of “Hound Dog” and “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog,” Horner and then-assistant coach Scott Germain remembered.

“He was a motivator to the kids, our game-day hype guy,” Germain said.

Kuhlmann’s coaching career started years before with the Waterloo Rampage youth football team in 2009. Laskowski was the team’s coach and wanted to collaborate with Bellefontaine Place, a community living home for people with developmental disabilities.

Kuhlmann, a resident at Bellefontaine Place, was ecstatic about the idea. He soon was breaking huddles and showering the players with acts of kindness, Laskowski said.

Laskowski said he believed Kuhlmann found his “calling” on the field.

So, when Laskowski started working with the Eagles quarterbacks in 2018, he said he had to reach out to Coach Mike.

“It was like a flower blooming; I saw that man do things I would’ve never thought he was capable of,” Laskowski said. “When he was out there, he didn’t see himself as a person with a disability – he was a regular man with the title of high school football coach.”

Laskowski remembers one time Kuhlmann gathered the Eagles team and pulled a picture of him running with the Special Olympics torch out of his wallet. Carrying that torch in 2017 was one of Kuhlmann’s favorite memories, his Special Olympics coach Debi Heck said.

Kuhlmann had the other Eagles coaches print copies for each player as a reminder of wisdom Kuhlmann wanted to impart on his players, Laskowski said.

Laskowski said an athlete repeated that same lesson in a fall 2019 KSDK interview about Kuhlmann’s coaching career.

“He doesn’t let his disability get to him. And if you put your mind to it, you can do anything,” then- senior Donavan Bieber said. “I love him.”

Heck said over the years, Kuhlmann participated in the Special Olympics’ softball throw, 50-meter run, 100-meter run and bowling. While he was constantly cheering on the Eagles and his other favorite sports teams, specifically the St. Louis Cardinals, Kuhlmann’s family formed their own fan club around him, his sister Angie Medina said.

Kuhlmann was the oldest of five, the big brother to four sisters. Medina said somebody in the family was always there to support Kuhlmann from the stands – whether it be their mom Judy Malone or one of the sisters. They could always spot Kuhlmann in the crowd of athletes because he was always looking for them in the audience, Medina said.

Medina remembers Kuhlmann’s 2010 race at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in particular.

“After he won the race he just kept running,” Medina said with a laugh. “He always goes above and beyond in everything he does.”

Medina said she believes Kuhlmann got his love of sports from their sister Deanna Fancher, who was on soccer, softball, field hockey and track teams throughout her life. Fancher currently plays on a senior softball team, Medina said.

Kuhlmann inspired Fancher, too — he is the reason why she became a special education teacher, Medina said.

Sports weren’t the only thing Kuhlmann poured his heart into, Medina said. He was so proud of his family and friends — his room at Bellefontaine Place was decorated from floor to ceiling with pictures. Every occasion was special and needed a photo to go with it.

Kuhlmann loved serving others, Medina said. He was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, where he could be found every Sunday handing out bulletins.

Heck said Kuhlmann was also an active member of Monroe Council, a local group that advocates for and hosts activities for adults with disabilities.

“Mike always wanted to be involved, it didn’t matter what it was,” Heck said.

Medina said she always knew her brother made a far-reaching impact; nearly everywhere she’d go somebody would approach her and say they knew Kuhlmann. The outpouring of support the family received after Kuhlmann’s death only solidifies the mark he made on the community, Medina said.

“I cannot tell you how good it makes me, my mom and my sisters feel to know everyone loved Mike as much as we do,” Medina said.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 1, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 522 S. Church St. in Waterloo. Funeral service, also at the church, will start at noon with burial to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 2910 South State Route 157 in Edwardsville.

The family requests memorials be made to Special Olympics, Kuhlmann’s obituary states.