(Written: June 2012)
Max R. Sparger served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. The conference came to national prominence during Sparger’s tenure, and he oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership.
He arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including as an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout’s athletics director from 1969-71.
Sparger directed the football team to the 1965 conference title and was named the NAIA District 14 Coach of the Year for his efforts. In 2010, the press box at UW-Stout’s Don and Nona Williams Stadium was dedicated to his memory.
Sparger was inducted into the UW-Stout Hall of Fame in 1980 and the NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame in 1985. The WIAC Men’s Scholar-Athlete Award is named in his honor.
A football and wrestling student-athlete, Sparger earned a bachelor’s degree from Dubuque University (Iowa) and master’s degree in education from Macalaster College (Minn.). He passed away in September 1993.