Members
Inductee
MARENDT, DAVE
MARENDT, DAVE
Born on July 7, 1948
Indianapolis, Indiana
September 2, 2024
Inducted On
July 17, 2025
Location Inducted
Franklin, Indiana
Region Number
8
Franklin College
Coach
Indianapolis Howe High School
1966
Dave was a team captain and three-year letter winner for his varsity football team. He was also a two-year letter winner in basketball and one-year in baseball.
Wilson Junior College, St. Joseph's College, Indiana University
B.S. in Health & Physical Education, M.S. in Secondary Education
1971
At Wilson Jr. College and at St. Joseph's, Dave earned All-American honors at wide receiver.
In addition to coaching, Dave taught future Indy Car Driver Conor Daly Driver's Education.
Dave and his wife Deb have two daughters, Audi (Matt) Shivers and Ali (Ryan) McElwain and grandsons, Remy McElwain and Tripp Shivers.
With 49 years of coaching experience-including 46 years dedicated to shaping young men in Indiana, Coach Dave Marendt has left an indelible legacy on and off the field. A beloved figure in the state's football community and a 44-year member of the Indiana Football Coaches Association, Coach Marendt's 242+ career wins, countless championships, and signature positivity have earned him both respect and admiration across generations of players and peers.
Coach Marendt made his greatest impact at Franklin College, where from 1999 to 2020 he served as an assistant coach mentoring wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs and offensive lineman. His tenure helped define a golden era for the Grizzlies, who amassed: 142 total wins, 115 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference victories, 12 HCAC Championships, 9 NCAA Division III playoff appearances, including 1 Elite 8 finish (2008) and 3 Sweet 16 appearances (2011-2013), 8 undefeated conference seasons, 131 First-Team All-Conference players, 9 All-Americans, and 3 Gagliardi Trophy Finalists.
Before Franklin, he served as head football coach at Mt. Vernon High School (1974-86), Lebanon High School (1987-91), North Atlanta High School (1993-94), and Edinburgh High School (1994-98), where he led teams to sectional runner-up finishes and earned multiple Coach of the Year honors. He also coached at Zionsville High School, St. Joseph's College, and Indianapolis Public School #78, impacting hundreds more.
He notched key career milestones such as: IFCA 50 & 100 Game Winner honors, Victory over USA Today Top 10 Sheridan (breaking their 20-game win streak), development of pioneering strength programs and lifting competitions, and coaching future NCAA Division III Football All-American and NFL Tight End Dr. Greg Werner.
His career also included 41 years as a health and PE teacher and recognition as the American Legion Teacher of the Year at Edinburgh High School.
Beyond wins and accolades, Coach Marendt was best known by players as the coach who painted nails to honor those who were "tough as nails" - a tradition that symbolized his belief that true toughness is found in heart and character, not appearance. To his colleagues, he was simply "Diamond Dave", a man whose infectious smile, encouraging spirit, and joyful presence mad the game better for everyone.