Wayne State University Athletics

Mulhauser, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and graduate of Highland Park HS, is being inducted for his 25-season career as head men's tennis coach at Wayne State University. In addition, he is also being honored for his five-decade career with the University, starting as a student in the 1940s, and ending with his retirement on June 30, 1988 from the positions of interim director of athletics and interim director of the Division of Health and Physical Education. After serving in the U.S. Navy Air Corp (1943-46) during World War II, Mulhauser entered Wayne University, and received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Wayne in 1948. On October 4, 1948, Mulhauser joined the University's teaching staff as a special instructor in health education and athletics, and as an assistant varsity men's basketball coach. He served as the Tartars' assistant basketball coach until 1956, and in 1954 added the responsibilities of head men's tennis coach, a position he held for 25 years until yielding the reigns after the 1978 season. During that span, he compiled a 194-111 (.636) overall record, the most wins and longest tenure of all Wayne's men's tennis coaches in history. His tenure as men's tennis coach is also the third longest of all Wayne coaches ever. Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame member David L. Holmes coached men's track for 41 seasons (1918-58) and men's cross country for 26 years (1929-57). Mulhauser succeeded Athletic Hall of Fame member Norman G. Wann as head men's tennis coach. Mulhauser's tennis squads won 13 of a possible 15 conference championships under his guidance. During his tenure, WSU belonged to the Presidents Athletic Conference (1956"66) and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1975"Present). The Tartars won the PAC title nine straight seasons, from 1956 to 1964, and the GLIAC titles from 1975 to 1978. His squads also won the 1968 University of Illinois-Chicago Circle Tennis Invitational, the Ferris State College Tennis Invitational in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976, and the Hillsdale College Invitational in 1978. Mulhauser also received a Master of Arts in Physical Education from Wayne, earned in 1950, and in 1970 Mulhauser received his Ph.D. in Physical Education from The University of Michigan. From 1954 to 1970 Mulhauser was an assistant professor of physical education at Wayne, and in September 1970 was promoted to an associate professor of physical education. From April 197 4 to September 1977 he served as the chair of the Department of Physical Education. In September 1977, Mulhauser assumed the duties of assistant director of the Division of Health and Physical Education. Upon Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame member Chalmer Hixson's retirement as director of athletics and the division, Mulhauser was appointed interim director of the division. On July 1, 1982 he was also appointed interim director of athletics. Upon Mulhauser's retirement he was named an emeritus associate professor. For several years Mulhauser has served as chairman of the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame Board of Directors. In his final year on the Board, 1989, Mulhauser served as Alumni Representative. Mulhauser and his wife, Irene, reside in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and have one, son, Frederick, one daughter, Celeste, and four grandchildren.