Renaissance Olympian

Mentored by Rockne, Gene Oberst becomes a Renowned Coach, Professor & Artist.

The story unfolds as Gene ‘Kentuck’ Oberst returns from the exhilarating Chariots of Fire Olympics in Paris, embarking on a new adventure in Louisiana—his first coaching position at St. Johns College, where he assumes multiple roles: coach, athletic director, trainer, janitor, and more. He confides in Rockne, “Only 16 players have signed up for the team, and astonishingly, not a single one has ever played organized football. For basketball, we have just one player with any prior experience.” Through an insightful exchange of 50 heartfelt letters with Knute Rockne, we witness Gene battling a myriad of challenges, yet Rockne’s unwavering support shines like a beacon in the darkness. As Gene ascends the coaching ladder, living in eight different cities over a bustling decade, he eventually discovers a tranquil life as a beloved professor and passionate artist, leaving behind a storied legacy.

Review

By Samuel A. Nigro, MD, retired psychiatrist and Knute Rockne collector

“Readers quickly become ‘renaissance Olympians’ vicariously in Gene Oberst’s shoes, beginning at the Chariots of Fire, 1924 Olympics as the first American ever to score points for the United States, the first ever to win a javelin medal for the U.S., and the first ever to cause an American Flag to rise over an Olympic Stadium. Then one travels through fascinating and instructive event after event from childhood thru an amazing friendly and professional relationships with Rockne and all others who built American sport…Of great intrigue, are the brief descriptions throughout the book of historical events relevant to today’s culture.”

“What is important about this book is the demonstration and teaching of success without today’s incomes and publicity. It goes beyond the sport event but into daily living for the rest of one’s life. The ‘renaissance Olympian’ of this book is a paradigm for youth. The book should be mandatory reading and discussions for every young athlete wanna-be. Coaches should hand the book out to all players at the start of every year. The players will get a sense of their futures, of coping by virtue, of being the person they can be… Renaissance Olympian is an educational masterpiece for finding and understanding virtuous human-being-ness and an outstanding example of how to tell stories needed to know by all youth.”