In Memoriam: Dave Keilitz

If you spent any time around Central Michigan University over the last six decades, chances are you crossed paths with Dave Keilitz—or felt the impact of his work in one way or another.

To generations of CMU Chippewas, Dave was many things: a ballplayer, a coach, an athletic director, a mentor, a trusted friend, and above all, a devoted family man. Whether he was in a dugout, behind a desk, or in the stands, he carried a quiet humility and a genuine love for people that made him one of the university’s most respected figures.

Dave passed away peacefully in North Carolina, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, Sue; his son Craig and daughter-in-law Jane; and daughter-in-law Katie and grandchildren Madeline, Abigail, Sofia, and Benjamin. His son, Brad, preceded him in death.

His Central Michigan story began in the fall of 1960, when a young student-athlete arrived in Mount Pleasant. What started as college experience grew into a 66-year relationship with a university and community that became inseparable from his name.

As a player from 1961-64, Dave helped lay the foundation for what CMU Baseball would become. In his senior season, he earned All-America honors and became the first player in program history to receive that distinction. It was an early indication of a career that would be filled with firsts.

If Dave made his mark as a player, he built his legacy as a coach.

When he took over the baseball program in 1971, CMU Baseball was still finding its footing on the national stage. Over the next 14 years, he transformed the program into a consistent winner, compiling more than 450 victories, capturing four Mid-American Conference championships, and leading the Chippewas to six NCAA Tournament appearances. Along the way, he coached All-Americans, developed professional players, and helped seven future major leaguers realize their dreams.

Those accomplishments mattered, but the people closest to the program would tell you his greatest achievement wasn't measured in wins and losses. It was the culture he created—one built on hard work, accountability, loyalty, and genuine care for young people.

Many who played for him still talk about lessons learned from Coach Keilitz that had little to do with baseball. After leaving the dugout, Dave continued serving the university as director of athletics from 1984-94. He brought the same steady leadership and commitment to excellence that had defined his coaching career, helping guide CMU Athletics through a period of growth and change.

His influence stretched far beyond Mount Pleasant. From 1994-2014, Dave served as executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association, becoming one of the most respected voices in college baseball nationwide. Yet no matter where his work took him, Central Michigan and Mount Pleasant remained home.

The honors followed naturally. He was inducted into the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994, and two of his championship teams were also inducted as all-time greats. He later joined the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame, among numerous other recognitions.

In 2018, Central Michigan honored Dave and Sue in a way that felt especially fitting. The field inside Theunissen Stadium was renamed Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium, ensuring that future generations of Chippewas would always know the family whose dedication helped shape the program.

For Dave, however, his impact was felt far beyond athletics.

Together, Dave and Sue invested deeply in the Mount Pleasant community. In 1999, they established the David B. and Susan K. Keilitz Family Fund to support community needs and charitable causes. They remained passionate supporters of Central Michigan University, CMU athletics, student success, and baseball alumni engagement for decades. Keilitz was also a member of the CMU Advancement Board since 2005 and served as Board Chair from 2019-21. He and his wife established the Dave and Sue Keilitz Family CMU Baseball Endowment in 2010 and the Dave and Sue Keilitz Fund for Athletic Excellence Term Endowment in 2019.

Simply put, Dave Keilitz helped set the standard for what CMU Baseball could be. More importantly, he showed countless student-athletes, colleagues, and friends what it meant to lead with integrity, humility, and kindness.

“Dave Keilitz is a Central Michigan legend,” Hall of Fame coach and former CMU athletic director Herb Deromedi said. “He will always be remembered for his success as a baseball player, an outstanding coach, and a tireless administrator. If you want to put a smile on your face, just take the time to pause and think what he meant to our University.”

“This is a tremendous loss for our university and for the Mount Pleasant community. There is no part of CMU untouched by Dave’s lifetime of service and generosity. His dedication and passion for CMU is unparalleled; he truly bled maroon and gold throughout his life,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon. “He leaves behind a powerful legacy in the lives and successes of the coaches, staff, and players he mentored, and through the thousands of students he supported in the classroom and in competition. His love for this university was evident in all he did, and we join his family in mourning the loss of his vibrancy, kindness, and Fired-Up spirit.”

As Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said, “Dave Keilitz was one of the most influential figures in the history of Central Michigan Athletics. He excelled as a player, coach, and administrator, leaving behind a legacy defined by respect, humility, and kindness. It was both a pleasure and an honor to know Dave as a mentor. He was in a class of his own.

“Dave will forever remain an integral part of the fabric of Central Michigan University, CMU Athletics, and the greater Mount Pleasant community. His impact will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts and sympathy go out to Sue, Craig, and the rest of the Keilitz family.”

And perhaps that's the best way to remember Dave Keilitz—not simply for the championships won, the halls of fame entered, or the field that bears his name, but for the lives he touched, the relationships he built, and the unwavering love he carried for Central Michigan University and the people who call it home.