UNCP Announces 2007 Athletic Hall Of Fame Inductee

PEMBROKE, N.C. – Former UNCP soccer letterwinner Michael ‘Skip’ Fedak, a three-year captain and all-south and all-NAIA district 29 honoree, was officially inducted as the 63rd member of the UNCP Athletic Hall of Fame during homecoming festivities Saturday afternoon at the English E. Jones Center.

Fedak, who went on to play a professional stint with the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League, received  his bachelor’s degree in history from UNCP in 1970 and also served as an assistant coach for the Braves in 1970.

“Anytime somebody heard the name Skip Fedak, the chances were that one of two things were going to come up – his love for UNC Pembroke or his love for the game of soccer,” said UNCP athletic director Dan Kenney. “He passed that passion for the University on to his entire family. Both his son and daughter are graduates of the University and his wife has been very instrumental to the success of UNCP, not only as a graduate but also as a member of the alumni association. This is a great tribute to Skip Fedak.”

A four-year letterwinner from 1966-69, Fedak helped lead the Braves to a cumulative 25-14 record under coaches Ken Johnson and Charlie Bishop. As a senior, he set a school record for assists en route to being named to the all-NAIA District 29 soccer team, as well as the all-South team which included his name among Division I student-athletes from Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State as well.

“Being named All-District and All-South in his era was an immense honor, and he played against teams coached by some of the legendary coaches who were instrumental in bringing soccer to the South,” said current UNCP men’s soccer head coach Mike Schaeffer. “While Skip was not on the original team at Pembroke State University, he didn't miss it by much, and played with many of the original members. He was one of the leaders of the team and played an important role in keeping soccer going during the early years of the program.”

Following his outstanding collegiate career, Fedak undertook a three-year stint with the USA Pan-American and Olympic team beginning in 1970, while also serving on the coaching staff of the 1970 UNCP squad that finished with a 7-5 clip. In 1973, he was drafted and signed to a one-year contract by the Atoms and, following his playing career, moved back into the coaching arena. Fedak would go on to serve a three-year contract as assistant coach at St. Andrews Presbyterian College and a four-year tenure as the head coach at Scotland High School.

Following a successful career in the prep ranks, he returned to St. Andrews as head coach from 1982-84.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree from UNCP, Fedak also holds a master’s degree in education from East Carolina University (1979) and an educational specialist degree from Michigan State University (1984). He retired from the Scotland County Public Schools system in 2002, having served as a history teacher from 1972-86 and as director and administrator of student services from 1993-2002.

A member of a long line of Fedak family members to attend UNCP, Fedak’s son, Mick, was a member of the UNCP soccer team from 1996-2000, his daughter, Jolee, was a cheerleader for the Braves, while his wife, Jeanne, served as the vice president of the UNCP Alumni Association from 2001-03.