Hall of Fame
Art Edstrom was a multisport athlete when he attended North Park as a freshman and sophomore lettering in basketball and baseball. He was recognized by classmates as “the most popular male” and the “most athletic male” in his class. His playing career continued at Taylor University and also with the 2nd Army basketball team. North Park was blessed by Art’s coaching career where he received CCIW Coach of the Year honors. Art coached multiple sports during his career and also served as the acting athletic director at North Park. He led an academic campaign at North Park which resulted in the North Central Accrediting Association approving our Physical Education degree. As a high school swimming coach at Deerfield High School, Art Edstrom is one of the most honored in Illinois history. He served as the president of the Illinois Swimming Association for 25 years, is a member of the Illinois Swimming Hall of Fame, was awarded the NISCA National Coach of the Year Award and the John Newman Award for outstanding service in 1992. He has served the community as Co-director of Special Olympics Swimming and as the site director for the NCAA Division III championships. Art and his wife Sandy are both North Park alums and all four of their children have attended North Park . Two of ten grandchildren have attended and a third entered North Park this fall.
