Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney community is remembering Loper legend Allen H. "Al" Zikmund, who passed away on Monday, January 29, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 95.
An Ord native, "Zik" was head football coach from 1955-71 and then served as Athletics Director from 1971-87 (32 total years). He is a member of the UNK Athletic, Ord High School, Nebraska Football, NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and Helms Athletic Foundation Halls of Fame. In June, he was placed on the ballot for entry in 2018 to the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame.
On the gridiron, his Loper teams went 121-31-3 (79.0 win pct.), going undefeated in 1956, 1958 and 1967. His 1955 squad became the first in school history to play in a postseason game (the Botany Bowl) with the 1963 Lopers the first to reach the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) playoffs.
Zikmund helped then-Kearney State College win the NCC (Nebraska College Conference) 11 times and he coached 18 NAIA All-Americans (first-team, second-team and honorable mention). That large group included his son, Jim, who was a record setting defensive back in the early 1970's. He also saw four of his players drafted into the NFL, led by offensive linemen Randy Rasmussen (N.Y. Jets).
In his role as AD, the Lopers moved into the CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) where they enjoyed success at a national level in a variety of sports from the mid-1970's until the late 1980's. He retired in 1987.
Zikmund played football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1939 through 1943 and was a member of the 1941 Rose Bowl team. He is the youngest player in Rose Bowl history to catch a touchdown pass. Zikmund was then in the Navy for three and a half years before returning to Nebraska to teach and coach at Alliance and Grand Island Senior High Schools.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Private burial will be at Kearney Cemetery before services. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services.
Memorials are suggested to the Zikmund Athletic Scholarship Fund established at UNK, Athletic Programs at UNK, First United Methodist Church or the Peterson Senior Activity Center in Kearney.
