Namesake - Jimmy Feix came to Western as a freshman in 1949. He was a football player, an assistant football coach, a head football coach, and assistant alumni director, a director of alumni affairs, and a director of athletics. Feix was the first Hilltopper to ever win the football All-American honors. As head coach, his 16 teams won 106 games with 6 conference championships and 2 NCAA national runner-up trophies. ["Feix Field Dedication Set for October 26," Oct. 18, 1991]

History - The football field was dedicated on Oct. 26, 1991:

Bowling Green, Ky. – Western Kentucky University will formally dedicate its football field at L.T. Smith Stadium in honor of Jimmy Feix Saturday, Oct. 26.

The “Feix Field” ceremonies will occur at halftime of the Hilltoppers’ home game with nationally ranked Northern Iowa, which is set to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. (CDT).

The University’s Board of Regents named the field for Feix at its July 29 meeting.

Feix has been a part of the athletic scene at Western Kentucky almost continuously since he came to the Hill as a freshman from Henderson, Ky., in 1949.

Since that time he has served Western as a student-athlete (1949-52), an assistant football coach (1957-1967), head football coach (1968-83), assistant alumni director (1983-85), director of alumni affairs (1985-86) and director of athletics (1986-91). He retired as athletics director June 30.

The first Hilltopper ever to earn football All-American honors (quarterback, 1952), Feix is also the winningest gridiron coach ever on the Hill. The 16 Topper teams he guided as head coach won 106 games (almost double the second best total on that coaches’ list). His teams claimed six conference championships and two NCAA national runner-up trophies. And, he coached WKU 16 All-Americans who helped his team post an overall record of 106-56-6, a very impressive 64.9 winning percentage.

[WKU Press Release “Feix Field” Dedication Set for October 26]

Additions - 1997 - $160,000 scoreboard installed

2001 - new synthetic turf laid $1 million

Sources - College Heights Herald, 1991 October 29, p. 18; 2001+

Park City Daily News - 2002 August 28

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008.