Bio

Induction Ceremony Video

Lowell Pitzer has dedicated more than 25 years of his career to the AMC and the NAIA, much of that time as the commissioner of the American Midwest Conference.  Prior to that he served as athletics director and both men's and women's basketball coach at Missouri Baptist University.  Upon stepping down as AMC commissioner, he became the Faculty Athletics Representative at MBU and remains active in the Conference.

"Lowell Pitzer has been had a tremendous impact on both MBU and the American Midwest Conference," said Dr. Thomas M. Smith, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Missouri Baptist. "His example over the years has demonstrated he is a true Champion of Character and an NAIA Ambassador. I am privileged to have served with and learned under Lowell as a Conference Commissioner."

During his tenure with the AMC, and previously as president of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, Lowell was an active member of the NAIA Conference Commissioners' Association and served on many committees including the NAIA Council of Affiliated Conference and Independents, NAIA National Administrative Council, Region V Management Committee,  NAIA Membership Evaluation Team, NAIA Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball Championship Committee, NAIA National Coordinating Committee, as well as, oversight committees in several sports. 

"What I said about Valerie rings true about Lowell as well.  He is highly respected by presidents and athletics directors throughout the Conference as well as nationally.  His former colleagues on the Conference Commissioners' Association still ask about him and share stories about his service and dedication to that group," Wolper continued about Pitzer.  "I had an opportunity to engage with Lowell on numerous occasions prior to my joining the Conference and it was through hearing him speak about the AMC and NAIA that led me to being a candidate to replace him when he stepped down as commissioner.  He left big shoes to fill, has remained close and offered wise counsel anytime I have sought guidance."

"There is no greater representative of the American Midwest Conference than Lowell Pitzer," said Brad Cygan, NAIA Director of Athletics Communications and former Assistant Director of Athletics for Media and Communication at Missouri Baptist. "It is fitting that Coach Pitzer will be among the first to be honored by the AMC in this way. The dedication that he has displayed throughout his many years of service to both the conference and NAIA are truly deserving and of this recognition. I was proud to watch him get inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and I am proud that he will be similarly honored by the conference he has loyally served for many years."

Lowell was inducted into the Missouri Baptist University Hall of Fame in 2004, the Alderson Broaddus University Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2013. Over the course of his career, he has been honored with numerous awards including AMC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year (1991-92), District 16 Administrator of the Year (1993-94), AMC Administrator of the Year (1996-97), AMC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year (1999-2000) and was recipient of the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship Frank Cramer Award in 1994 when he guided the Spartans' to their first-ever appearance in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship.

  
"Induction into the AMC Hall of Fame is intended to recognize and honor individuals who have brought pride, honor and distinction to the Conference," said Wolper. "Over time there will be many deserving athletes, coaches and administrators earning a place in the Hall of Fame, and we saw many of those individuals nominated for our inaugural class but if not for what Lowell and Valerie have done for the AMC and the NAIA, there would be no place for an AMC Hall of Fame so it is fitting the two of them, and only the two of them, be the inaugural class."