Karl Kremser

Karl Friedrich Kremser (born 3 August 1945) is a German American former football placekicker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) and retired college soccer coach from Florida International University. He played college soccer for the United States Military Academy and college football for the University of Tennessee. He was chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft.

Early life Kremser was born in Salzwedel in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany shortly after the end of World War II to Reichsdeutsche parents born in Latvia. His father was drafted into the German Army and fought on the Russian front. While his father was in the army, Kremser's family fled to Germany, to avoid the incoming Red Army. Until his family emigrated to Seabrook Farms, New Jersey in 1952, Kremser lived in Germany as a war refugee. Seabrook Farms was a truck farming area and pioneer of the frozen vegetable industry, which gave factory jobs and immigration support in exchange for one year of work. After Kremser's father finished his contract at Seabrook Farms, he found a new job and relocated the family to Levittown, Pennsylvania. Kremser attended the local Woodrow Wilson High School, where he excelled in track and soccer, graduating in 1964.

College career Kremser was recruited by West Point for track, but also played soccer where he led the Black Knights to the final four of the 1965 NCAA Tournament. Unable to adjust to the cadet lifestyle, Kremser left after two years, in search of another school. After reading a Spring 1966 Sports Illustrated article about Richmond Flowers, Kremser wrote to University of Tennessee track and field coach Chuck Rohe. Coach Rohe wrote back and the two arranged to meet during an AAU event. Unable to offer Kremser a scholarship, Coach Rohe instead arranged a work-study place, and Kremser transferred in 1966. The kick set a Southeastern Conference record for distance, and still ranks among the longest field goals in Tennessee history.

Kremser was an accomplished high jumper for the Tennessee Volunteers track and field team, placing runner-up in the high jump at the 1968 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The following year, George Wilson was replaced by Don Shula, who brought in Garo Yepremian. Shula initially kept both kickers, with Yepremian on the taxi squad, but after one game, Yepremian was promoted to the active roster and Kremser was released. Upon being released, Kremser started teaching physical education at Palm Springs Junior High, while looking for a new team. He signed with Green Bay for pre-season, but the day before leaving for camp, he injured his quad during practice. It was then that Kremser decided to end his football career. During 27 years at FIU, Kremser was able to greatly develop its program, from a small Division II unknown to a respected Division I program. He guided two NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship teams at FIU, in 1982 and 1984, and three others reached the national finals, including his 1996 team that played for the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship against St. John's. The two championships won in 1982 and 1984 remain FIU's only national championships in any sport. Kremser led FIU to eight Division II and eight Division I tournament appearances, while winning the 1991 Trans America Athletic Conference tournament. FIU also won the Atlantic Soccer Conference regular season championship in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Kremser briefly retired as FIU coach in 2002, after its soccer program was closed in favor of a new football program. The decision was reversed the next day, following alumni protest. Kremser remained at FIU for five more years, before leaving his post in 2007. Kremser's assistant coach and former FIU three time All-American, Munga Eketebi, took over.

Kremser left FIU as the 17th most successful coach in NCAA Division I men's soccer history, with a 337–210–41 career record. He posted a 324–171–41 mark at FIU, guiding the Panthers to 24 winning seasons. His teams recorded 10-or-more-victories 14 times in his final 17 years.