Central Washington Athletics mourns the passing of former student-athlete, coach, administrator, Hall of Famer, and friend Gary Frederick. Frederick passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 86.
 
Frederick started his Wildcat career as a member of the football team from the 1956 season through the 1958 season. He earned First Team All-Conference honors in 1958 and Second Team All-Conference honors in 1957 both as a center.
 
Following his graduation from CWU in 1959 with a bachelor's in education, Frederick had stints at Thorp High School, Waitsburg High School, and Central Kitsap High School coaching multiple sports at all three schools. Frederick returned to Ellensburg in 1967 to become an Assistant Coach on the Wildcat football team and served in that role through the 1983 season.
 
In 1968 Frederick was named the Head Coach of the Wildcat baseball team coaching major leaguers and CWU Hall of Famers Billy North and Dave Heaverlo in the process. Frederick coached the baseball team through the 1978 season earning three NAIA District 1 Coach-of-the-Year honors in 1969, 1970, and 1971. During his tenure, the baseball team had a 234-147 record and made it to the NAIA College World Series in 1968 and 1970.
 
Frederick briefly served as the Chairman of the Physical Education Department at CWU from 1978 through 1980 before taking over as the Athletic Director which he served until 1999. During his time as the Athletic Director Wildcat athletics saw tremendous success, especially in men's sports as CWU went 10 straight years ranked in the Top-10 in the NAIA Men's All-Sports Competition, winning it all in the 1986-87 athletics year.
 
In 1998 Frederick helped guide the Wildcats into NCAA Division II and the Pacific West Conference. Frederick earned national recognition from the NAIA earning NAIA National Administrator of the Year during the 1987-88 athletics year and was appointed the NAIA Interim Director of Championship Events during the 1993-94 athletics year.
 
In 1983 Frederick took over head coaching duties of the Wildcat women's basketball team. Over the 11 seasons as Head Coach Frederick guided CWU to a 164-146 record and in the 1987-88 season led CWU to the only NAIA District 1 Title in Wildcat women's basketball history. He earned NAIA District 1 Coach-of-the-Year in 1986 and 1988.  
 
In 1993, Frederick spearheaded adding softball as a varsity sport for Central Washington athletics and in 1995 took over head coaching duties. He served as the Head Coach from 1995 until he handed the reigns down to his at the time Assistant Coach Mallory Holtman-Fletcher in 2010 becoming an Assistant coach for the 2011 through 2014 seasons. With Frederick as Head Coach, the Wildcat softball team went 320-360 and made the NCAA Division II West Regional for the first time in program history in 2010, Frederick's final season at the helm. As an Assistant Coach, Frederick helped guide the Wildcats back to the NCAA Division II West Regional twice in 2011 and 2014.
 
Frederick finished his Wildcat head coaching career with a combined 718-653 record. In 1997 he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, and in 1999 was inducted into the Central Washington University Athletic Hall of Fame.