Robert “Sam” Kromer wore many hats during his career at SC4 and throughout the Port Huron community.

From teaching to coaching, Kromer was extremely successful and had a major impact on the lives of many students/athletes from the day he walked onto the campus in 1962.

Starting with the 1964-65 men’s basketball season, Kromer led the Skippers to five consecutive Michigan Community College Athletic Association championships with season records of 21-1, 19-5, 27-1, 24-4 and 30-2. He compiled a career record of 214-114, which at the time ranked him among the nation’s top coaches.

Kromer also coached the SC4 golf team. The Skippers were league champions four times and placed in the league’s top four nine times in 13 years of coaching. He finished his career with a 143-83 record. Many of Kromer’s athletes went on to successful careers at four-year schools, such as “Bubbles” Harris at Indiana University and Randy Anderson at Akron University for basketball. Joe Mericka, Al Perry, John Traub, Gary Tobiczyk and Markus Schulz are only a few of the notable golfers that began their college careers under Kromer.

In addition to his coaching duties, Kromer served as the SC4 athletic director for more than 20 years.

Away from the college, Kromer was very active in community service as president of the Port Huron Kiwanis Club and The First Congregational Church. He golfed and bowled for years and officiated high school football games. The popular Flight Tennis Tournament was named in his honor to commemorate his major contribution to its organization. 

Kromer, who was a charter member of the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees upon its inception in 1977, was born April 15, 1927 in Punxsutawney, PA, and was active in all sports while receiving his early education there. Upon graduation from high school he entered military service with the Navy Seabees in the post-World War II occupation of China and the Philippines.

Following his career in the Navy and graduation from Slippery Rock State College, Kromer taught and coached for 11 years at Springfield and Albion, PA. He earned a Masters from Michigan State University in 1960.