ALUMNI PROFILES
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Alumni that Graduated 2010 - Present
MARKWORTH
48
Killian Markworth, '17
Health, Fitness & Recreation (Nutrition minor)
Killian was the ultimate Swiss-army knife for MU, as he switched between Center, Full Back, Tight End and Defensive Tackle positions before committing to being a student assistant coach.
He'll always remember Coach Gritti’s first off-sesason. Coach Gritti made serious changes and put the team through a very tough Spring Ball. They were challenged more than we had been in a Spring Ball before and it was the beginning of a great culture change. Overall, his biggest takeaway were those grueling off-season weight room work that bonded he and his teammates closer together and he hopes to hold onto those bonds for life.
With his degree in hand, Killian is currently the assistant Offensive Line coach at Morehead State University.
Alumni that Graduated 2000 - 2009
KEDZIORA
71
Lt. Mark Kedziora, '00
Physical Education
#71 graduated in 2000, with BS in Pyhs Ed. while also playing OL as the 2-year starting Center for the Big Blue and being a conference champ in 1998.
He has worked for the Will County Sheriff's Police since 2001 and has earned the rank of Lieutenant, serves as afternoon shift watch commander, and is the team leader/explosive breacher with the SWAT team.
While he makes time for himself going to concerts and cooking, he would rather spend time with friends and family, especially his girlfriend Staci and the 'best accomplishment I've ever had' in being father to 5yr old son Jaxson
#71 is optimistic about obstacles, and says, "when life closes a door, breach the wall and walk in like a boss!"
Alumni that Graduated 1990 - 1999
MARTIN
11
Assistant Coach
Chuck Martin, '90
Chuck Martin, who has more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, has twice been named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 2005 and 2006, and has coached in seven national championship games in the past 13 seasons. Martin is currently the Head Football Coach at Miami of Ohio University.
Martin was an All-American safety at Millikin and was selected as a GTE Academic All-American. He doubled as an All-American place kicker, received Academic All-District honors for the Millikin baseball team and was inducted into the Millikin Hall of Fame in 2008.
He graduated from MU in 1990 with a degree in accounting and earned his master's degree in physical education from Mankato State University in 1993.
Martin and his wife Dulcie have two children, Max, 14 and Emma, 10.
Alumni that Graduated 1980 - 1989
PLACEY64
Major (retired) Mark Placey, '80
2016 Excellence in Life Honoree
MU Hall of Fame 2010
Physical Education, minor in Math
After graduating from Millikin, Mark Placey joined the Marine Corps and was commissioned as a second lieutenant honor graduate. He then attended flight school and was designated a naval aviator in 1983. Placey graduated from Officer Candidate School and piloted F4s and F18s during his distinguished career that included the following awards:
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Joint Services Commendation Medal in 1992
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Air Medal with Strike Flight Numeral 4 in 1995
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Single Mission Air Medal with Combat V for Valor in 1995 for leading an air strike against a Krijina Serb air defense site
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Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal in 2000
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Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star
He retired from the Marine Corps in 2000 after accumulating more than 3,500 hours of flight time, 2,500 of them completed in a singleseat fighter aircraft. In 2010, Placey was a pilot for American Airlines. Placey has had stints as an assistant football coach at Montini Catholic High School, College of DuPage, Benedictine University, and Fenwick.
At Millikin, he started all for four years and received numerous awards and recognition. He was twice named to the All-CCIW 1st Team as offensive guard in 1978 and offensive tackle in 1979. As a senior in 1979, he was honored as Millikin’s most valuable offensive lineman, was named to the NCAA All-American 2nd team, and received All-American Honorable Mention status from the Associated Press. In 1978, he was named to the NCAA Academic All-American second team, and was inducted into the Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
Alumni that Graduated 1970 - 1979
POE
55
Assistant Coach
Mike Poe, '74
MU Hall of Fame 2003
MU Football Alumni Advisory Board Member
BA in Biology
Although he has been most honored as a former Assistant Football Coach and Head Wrestling Coach, our MU Hall of Famer also played football and wrestled for the Big Blue back in the 1970's. As a student-athlete, our former Offensive Guard remembers the hard fought victory in 1973 at the Boot Hill Bowl game.
With some many memories to choose from as a coach, (25 years football and 25 years wrestling at Millikin) the two that stand out are the 1989 victory over Augustana with repeat victory over Augie 2 weeks later and in Wrestling, facing Kip Crandall in the National Championship match at heavyweight in 1988.
Our Coach Poe is a man of few words, but has always been known as a proud family man, with his wife of 45 years Candace, and their children Son Matthew (wife Angie) with grandsons Ryan and Alex; and Daughter Megan (husband Jake Baldwin) with son Everett; Daughter Molly (Wesley Hamilton).
A student of life, Poe lives by the maxim, “What you know is easy, what you don’t know is hard.”
Alumni that Graduated 1901 - 1969
JORSTAD
75
Ryan Jorstad, '62
Retired from full time work in 2005, Millikin's first EVER 1st Team Academic All-American continues to do part-time consulting work with some long-time former clients. On top of that, he currently volunteers with local “Friends Of The Animal” group, owns/manages storage units, and babysit for two youngest Grandchildren every week.
While memories of bus rides, the smell of freshly cut grass and the loyalty in unity behind the Big Blue colors will never fade, Ryan's most treasured gift is his wife of over 40 years, Marlene, their 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
His playing days saw our #75 win an unprecedented number of awards. As a former 2x Captain, he was honored as a 3x First Team CCIW All-Conference at OL and then switched to DL and also won First Team CCIW All-Conference while also picking up the CCIW Linemen of the Year award and was selected to the Little All-American team as a Honorable Mention player and finally, the aforementioned 1st Team Academic All American selection. His historic career culminated in his MU Athletics 1978 Hall of Fame induction.
“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.”
Sydney J. Harris
It's safe to say that Ryan regrets little in his life!