North Central College Athletics

Gordon Fisher served as football coach, track and field coach and athletic director for North Central from 1926-44, a period that saw the construction of Merner Field House (1931). During his time at the College, Fisher helped lay the foundation for a successful Cardinal athletic program. In 18 years as head football coach (1926-42), Fisher compiled a 74-44-12 overall record and won two conference titles. For nearly 70 years, he stood as the all-time winningest football coach in school history. Fisher, who coached Inaugural Hall of Fame inductee Bill Shatzer '42 and fellow 2005 inductee Dick Smith '48, was also named to North Central's All-Century Football Team (1898-1998). At the helm of the Cardinal track and field program, he guided the team to six league championships and 83 dual meet victories. 

In 1944, Fisher moved to Indiana University, accepting the positions of head cross country and track and field coach and assistant football coach. As leader of the Hoosier running squads, he coached his teams to 19 Indiana Intercollegiate titles, four Big Ten Championships and two NCAA runner-up finishes. He became the first president of the Indiana Association of Track Coaches (1948-51) and later served as president of the Indiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association and National Collegiate Cross Country Coaches Association (1955-56). 

By order of the school's Board of Trustees, he was the first IU coach to be honored with ever be emeriti status. After retiring from Indiana in 1961, Fisher returned to North Central for the 1963-64 academic year as a special consultant to the president in the area of physical education and athletics. He worked passionately with the College in defining the role and function of athletics.

Fisher's accomplishments were recognized on the world stage in 1960 when he was asked by the U.S. State Department to coach the Thai national track and field team at the Summer Olympics in Rome. At the request of the Thai government, he also coached the team at the 1962 Asian Games. 

A 1926 graduate of the University of Minnesota, he later earned a master of arts degree from New York University. He was also a veteran of World War I where he served with the U.S. Navy. Fisher was born July 21, 1895, and passed away Oct. 8, 1980, in Sun City, Ariz. He and his wife, Dorothy, were married 54 years and had two daughters, Marjorie and Karen.