Wayne Kreklow

Wayne R. Kreklow (born January 4, 1957) is an American volleyball coach and former professional basketball player. During the 1980–81 NBA regular season, Kreklow was a member of the Boston Celtics team that had won the 1981 NBA Finals. He was the women's volleyball coach at the University of Missouri from 2005 through the 2018 season. Kreklow retired in July 2019.

Early life Kreklow was born in Neenah, Wisconsin. Wayne is the son of Wayne Sr. (d. 2018) and Joanne. He is one of six Kreklow children. His father coached and taught for 42 years.

Kreklow played on the 1975 state championship basketball team at Neenah High School. Kreklow scored 23 points in Neenah's state quarterfinal loss in 1974. Kreklow led the 1975 Wisconsin State High School Basketball Tournament in scoring with 69 points, including 19 in Neenah's 64–55 victory over Milwaukee Marshall in the WIAA Class A final.

In leading Neenah to the 1975 WIAA state basketball title, Kreklow scored 499 points in 1974–1975 and 926 for his career. Kreklow was the 1975 Wisconsin Player of the Year. He also played volleyball in high school.

Basketball career

College (1975–1979) A guard, Kreklow played basketball at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. He was also recruited by Minnesota, Wisconsin and Marquette among others.

As a freshman in 1975–1976, Kreklow averaged 8.0 points and 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the 8–19 Drake Bulldogs under Coach Bob Ortegel. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists, with Drake finishing 10–17 as a sophomore. As a junior in 1977–1978, Kreklow averaged 15.2 points 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists, as Drake finished 6–22.

As a senior in 1978–1979, Kreklow averaged 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists as Drake improved to 15–12.

In 25 NBA games with the Boston Celtics in 1980–81, Kreklow averaged 1.2 points per game. Kreklow was waived on January 21, 1981, and the Celtics went on to win the NBA Championship in May 1981.

"I was very much of a support player. I wasn't one of the main guys in the rotation," Kreklow said of his Celtic tenure. "My job was to make guys work as hard as they could in practice and challenge them, and make sure they were playing to their potential. That was my time — practice."

Volleyball coaching Kreklow coached Columbia College to NAIA national volleyball titles and undefeated seasons in 1998 and 1999.

"For me, I want to win," Kreklow said. "I want to win championships. I want to do all that kind of stuff. But that, to me, is the secondary by-product of doing things the right way."

Regular season

Honors The Neenah Joint School District inducted Kreklow into their Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2016, Kreklow was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, along with his wife Susan.