St. Cloud State mourns the passing of former coach John Kasper
5/9/2020 3:44:00 PM | Baseball
A longtime member of the St. Cloud State University campus community, Kasper served as the Huskies' baseball coach from 1950 to 1967. He arrived at SCSU in the fall of 1949 and compiled a record of 187-121-5 during his time with Huskies' baseball. He left coaching in 1967 and served as the chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) department at St. Cloud State until the late 1970s. Kasper later retired from St. Cloud State in 1983 and was named emeritus. Â
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Kasper received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he played baseball for the Badgers in the Big Ten in 1942. He went on to serve in the Armed Forces during WWII before returning to play baseball at Wisconsin in 1946 and 1947. He later a Master's degree from Wisconsin and a doctorate from Indiana University.
Information for services to honor Coach Kasper are not available at this time, but please check back at scsuhuskies.com for information when it becomes available.
St. Cloud Times story on the passing of Coach John Kasper:Â https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/2020/05/09/former-scsu-baseball-coach-john-kasper-dies-98-years-old/3094494001/
Memories of John Kasper from the Huskies:
It is with great sadness that I respond to this email.   John Kasper was a great role model for me and many other student/athletes at SCSU. His "down to earth" approach will always be remembered. You know if you had a problem and saw Coach Kasper he would work with you to find a solution rather Then play the "We have you now" game. I will always respect him for that! I enjoyed my stay at SCSU,  and John Kasper was a large part of that. The athletes have lost a great person.
Mike Rybak
1968, '72
God bless John Kasper. I played on his freshman baseball team (playing all three sports was too much) but with just one year laying for Kasper, with John's coaching style, in my first year coaching in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., my Clippers went to to win the Northeast Wisconsin Conference...my one and only baseball coaching before going onto coaching football and hockey in the St. Paul conference. In 1982, John asked me to join his SCSU Hall of Fame Committe, which I would join and be on the committee for 34 years.Â
Dale Carmichael 1965
He was a great person to know and he was always very welcoming to me as a young student and athlete. I always remembered those red socks, his trademark.
Van Nelson
The first time I remember meeting Dr Kasper was my sophomore year at SCSU in 1981. Halenbeck South had just opened that year and Dr Kasper's office overlooked the facility on the upper floor. Jim Stanek's office was down the hall from Dr Kasper's and I'd spend hours sitting in both of their offices talking baseball.Â
My most fondest Dr Kasper memory:
As most people know, Dr Kasper was an avid runner. When Halenbeck South opened in 1981, Dr Kasper would runs his laps, albeit slower than most college kids, around the track. When baseball practice began in January I always thought it was a coincidence that he'd be running around the track during our afternoon practices. The pitching mounds would be set up on the west side of the field house facing east inside the curtain that separated the inside basketball courts from the track. Dr. K would always wait until baseball practice started to begin running. This allowed him to monitor the pitchers, catchers & hitters during practice. I can still hear him yelling words of encouragement to me like, "looking good Kick" or "a little high and outside Kick" when I was pitching in the cages. Dr Kasper was the first person to congratulate me when I arrived at Atwood for the 1998 HOF ceremony. He loved every SCSU athlete, but had a special appreciation for SCSU baseball alumni. Â
I also remember Dr Kasper sitting next to Coach Stanek behind home plate at Dick Putz Field wearing their red jackets at every Husky baseball game during my collegiate career.Â
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Kiecker – SCSU Baseball Player – 1980-1983
Sorry to hear bout Coach John, he was a fine a coach and GREAT PERSON! I was lucky to be able to play for him as his starting catcher from 1952 – 55, we didn't win them all – but we did win most of them! I may be the oldest or at least one of the oldest of his former players, I will be 87 in December. I will always remember him, not only as great coach, he got things done as a gentleman! He lead by example and for those of us lucky enough to play for him learned how to take care and proceed once our playing days at SCSU were over. I've thought about COACH JOHN many times since 1955!
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I also played football under Les Luymes {spelling} and wrestled for Glen Gerdes during my days at then called St. Cloud State College, those were "fun times"!
Virg Deering 1955
John Kasper was a true superstar in SCSU history. Also, he and Evie were long time family friends. My dad (Jerry)Â played baseball for John, and my parents always stayed in touch with him and Evie.
Dave Reichel
ÂGreat coach, greater individual!ÂSecond season, sophomore year; first start at Creighton University.  First six Creighton batters all reach base.  We're down 3-0, bases loaded, nobody out.  Coach comes sauntering out of the dugout to the mound.  All the infielders (and catcher) approach the mound.  I suppose to say I was a bit nervous would be an understatement.  Coach speaks and says:  "How's it going, Joe?"  Anything I can get you?  Coke or anything?"   WHAT?  My teammates at the mound hide their faces in their gloves to keep the laughter down.  But then Coach says, "Joe, why don't you pitch like I know you can and let's get to hitting."  I struck out the next three and we went to hitting and eventually the game was called after ten innings (I was in there till the end) tied 4-4; darkness—their field had no lights. ÂÂHis humor, calm demeanor and the serious side of 'let's get to hitting' put this young kid at ease.  This was the beginning of three great years playing for and listening to Coach who knew his players, treated all fairly (and firmly when needed which wasn't often) and treated us with sincere caring and respect.  I enjoyed the practices, the road trips, the games, the chats in the dugout, and the list goes on and on. ÂÂThere is no doubt that I took with me upon graduation, not only great memories of SCSC baseball, but also the 'ol Dad's (which Coach sometimes affectionately referred to himself as) coaching theories and techniques when I was hired to teach and be head high school baseball coach in Cokato, the fall of '65, and continued to use them throughout my coaching/managing and playing days at Cokato and with the our men's amateur team, the DC (Dassel-Cokato) Saints.  Needless to say,  he had a HUGE impact on my life going forward from the days at SCSC.  ("College" in my day:)ÂJoe Harmala
I first met Dr Kasper when I was in high school and always enjoyed our visits together. He was intrigued by this girl-jock from Apollo HS who wanted to play sports with the boys! I had him as an instructor in college and also served with him for many years on the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame committee. Always passionate, always fun, filled with story after story, he was a joy to be around. His contributions to SCSU in general and the Hall of Fame in particular are legendary. As was he. He'll be missed, but I'm so grateful we've had so many years to share together. Hugs to Evie and John's family and friends.  Â
Sue Wahl StorbeckÂ
