Hall of Famer Winslow hired as Lakeland College Athletic Director

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (Lakeland College) - Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. today was named vice president for athletics and wellness at Lakeland College.

Winslow was introduced by Lakeland President Michael A. Grandillo at a short event in the college's Todd Wehr Athletic Center attended by approximately 200 Lakeland student-athletes, employees, alumni and surrounding community members. A recording of the announcement is online at http://lakeland.edu/kellen.

Winslow, 54, will serve as Lakeland's director of athletics. He will also lead development of a college-wide focus on wellness designed to help all students understand how lifestyle choices they make in college impact their personal health and their ability to get a job after college.

"This role at Lakeland fulfills two things I've been looking for - a place where I can continue to be involved in athletics and to implement a comprehensive student wellness plan," said Winslow, who becomes the 11^th person to lead Lakeland athletics since intercollegiate athletics was organized in 1932.

"President Grandillo shares my vision and is giving me his support in making the vision a reality. Athletics is a major portion of campus life and community engagement."

Winslow and Grandillo met approximately four years ago. Grandillo started as Lakeland president in July.

To most, Winslow is best known for revolutionizing the tight end position while playing for the San Diego Chargers from 1979 to 1987. A fixture in San Diego head coach Don Coryell's passing-oriented offense, Winslow transitioned the position from primarily a line blocker to a major part of the offense. He led the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981 and had three 1,000-plus yard seasons.

At the time of his retirement, Winslow ranked fifth among active receivers and 14th among all NFL pass-catchers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

Prior to coming to Lakeland, Winslow served four years as athletic director at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. He helped the school, an athletic independent for decades, become a founding member of the Great-Midwest Athletic Conference and a member of the football-only Great Lakes Valley Conference.

He also launched a speaker series that brought leaders from the world of sports to inspire and motivate community leaders in business, government and nonprofit organizations. The series, modeled after a similar series led by Grandillo when he served at Tiffin University, included Pro Football Hall of Famers Anthony Muoz and Gale Sayers and pro basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Winslow plans to start a similar series at Lakeland.

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