Roy Kramer

Roy Kramer
Kramer (left) with his wife Sara Jo, c. 1958
Biographical details
Born(1929-10-30)October 30, 1929
Maryville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedDecember 4, 2025(2025-12-04) (aged 96)
Vonore, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materMaryville College
University of Michigan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1955Battle Creek Central HS (MI) (assistant)
1956Hudson HS (MI)
1957Dowagiac HS (MI)
1958–1959Benton Harbor HS (MI)
1960–1964East Lansing HS (MI)
1965–1977Central Michigan
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1978–1990Vanderbilt
1990–2002SEC (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall83–32–2 (college)
58–14–3 (high school)
Tournaments3–0 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NCAA Division II (1974)
2 IIAC (1967–1968)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2023 (profile)

Roy Foster Kramer (October 30, 1929 – December 4, 2025) was an American college football coach and athletics administrator. Kramer was the head football coach for Central Michigan University from 1967 to 1977, compiling a record of 83–32–2 and winning the 1974 NCAA Division II Football Championship. He then served as the athletic director at Vanderbilt University from 1978 to 1990, and later as the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference from 1990 to 2002, where he created the Bowl Championship Series.