Crisler Center

By Dani Bitar

Herbert O. Fritz Crisler is known as a Michigan legend for his remarkable twenty-six years of success as the University of Michigan’s football head coach. Having won three national championships and being nominated coach of the year, Crisler was greatly rewarded for his accomplishments. The Crisler Center received its title as a tribute to Herbert O. Fritz Crisler and his contributions to Michigan athletics.

The $7.2 million arena opened on December 6, 1967 to the public. While the Crisler Center is most commonly known as the home of the Michigan basketball team, it is also used for wrestling and gymnastic squads. In addition, many campus events and concerts have been held at the arena. 

Following the popularity and success of the center, the University of Michigan realized over the years it needed to invest money in a few renovations to maintain its admiration. In 1998, a full-service production studio was added to the press lounge, and a replay system was built on the overhead scoreboard (M Athletics). The building underwent two more renovations in 2001 and, most recently, in 2012, including an installment of bleacher seats, courtside seating, and a full re-design of the changing rooms. Currently, the arena can hold a maximum capacity of 12,707 fans (M Athletics).

Herbert O. Fritz Crisler was born in 1899, a time when the name Herbert was widespread. The year he was born, his name was the 36th most popular name in the country, and he shared it with 7,878 other people (SSA). The name Crisler is an Americanised version of German Kreisler or Griessler, a geographical name for someone who farmed or lived close to a location of sand (Ancestry.com). While Herbert Crisler had no relation with farming or sand, he did accumulate a record of 71 – 16 – 3, where he won a National Championship with his undefeated 1947 squad that is nowadays considered Michigan’s strongest team ever (Michigan Hall of Fame Sports). He is known as “the father of two-platoon football” for his revolutionary innovation of offensive and defensive tactics (source). Fritz Crisler was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 for his notable work.

Herbert O. Fritz Crisler was able to separate himself through his extraordinary coaching skills. Ergo, leading to the naming of one of the University of Michigan’s most popular athletic buildings. Crisler’s stunning legacy will forever be remembered through the University of Michigan’s Crisler Center.