Inductee Details

Corkie Hedlund

Induction Class of 2021
Sports: Basketball; Volleyball; Intramurals; Physical Education
Corkie Hedlund

Education
Illinois State University – BS in Health & Physical Education
Northern Illinois University – MS in Physical Education
Northern Illinois University – EdD in Curriculum & Supervision

OU Connection
Chair, Health, Physical Education & Recreation Division (1995-present)
Professor, Physical Education (1991-present)
Director, OU Wellness Center (1990-present)
Chair, Department of Physical Education (1987-present)
Faculty President (2000-2005)
Chair, Natural Science Division (1994-1995)
Assistant Coach, Women’s Basketball (1981-1983)
Head Coach, Volleyball (1981-1988)
Director of Intramurals (1981-1983)

Corkie impacted student-athletes at Ottawa University for more than 40 years, and was considered by many to be the matriarch of the Hull Center and Braves athletics. Before her retirement in 2014, she was a professor of physical education, director of the OU Wellness Center and chair of the Physical Education & Recreation Division. Corkie first arrived at OU in 1981 after more than a decade of service in Illinois high school athletics as a physical education teacher, volleyball coach and softball umpire. Corkie’s Ottawa tenure began as director of intramurals for two years, while also serving as head volleyball coach, a position she held for eight years, and assistant women’s basketball coach from 1981-1983. She was named chair of the Department of Physical Education in 1987, a position she still holds today. For two years, in 1994-1995, Corkie served a chair of the now-defunct Natural Science Division. In 1990, she earned OU’s Sybil Martin Distinguished Professor award. Through the years, Corkie published several journal articles and was a national convention and workshop speaker known as a respected ambassador for collegiate athletics and Ottawa University.