CFB150: Chris Ondrula

The 2019 football season is the 150^th anniversary of college football. Here at MiamiRedHawks.com, we will honor some of the all-time greats to play for Miami University as well as those that have made an impact on the field since their graduation. We caught up with Chris Ondrula to hear about the memories he made while wearing the Red and White. Ondrula earned three letters from Miami, leading the team in punting average in both 1989 and 1990. To this day, he still owns the fourth longest punt (74) in school history. He was also Miami's quarterback during the 1988 season, throwing for 1,304 yards.

I know it's a bit of a broad question, but how would you explain your time at Miami?
CO: My years at Miami were some of the best of my life. It may sound trite, but it was my pleasure to be able to represent Miami University by playing a varsity sport. I also developed lifelong friendships and, most importantly, became a Miami Merger when I married my wife, Lisa.

How did Miami help you to prepare for life outside of football?
CO: There was always a seriousness with which the Miami coaching staff and administration took with academics. I never felt that my academic progress was secondary to football but, that they were equally important and that I was expected to excel at both. I was also very fortunate to have Darcy Shriver as my academic advisor. She was a source of constant encouragement and was a driving force behind my being able to graduate with a business degree and setting the foundation for my future success.

What was your favorite moment on the playing field at Miami and why?
CO: It is difficult to select a single moment, but I do recall one specific memory of a game at Toldeo. We were backed up to a point where I was set to punt just outside of our own endzone. The snap came back and for some reason, all of the cosmic tumblers fell into place for me and I nailed a 74-yard punt which, at the time was a Miami record. I snagged the ball and found a way to get it to my girlfriend (now wife) who was in the stands. I still have the ball!!

What advice would you give a student-athlete at Miami to help them achieve their goals?
CO: Embrace the adversity. No matter how well prepared you are, adversity will find you. Whether on the field, your career or personal relationships, true character is not defined by the adversity but, instead, how one handles the adversity.

Did you have a favorite teammate in your time at Miami? What made him special?
CO: My favorite teammate was Chris Schweisthal. Chris was a tight end from Berea, Ohio, and I was amazed at how well he could catch the ball. Anything that came near him was a catch. He had some of the best hands of anyone I had ever played with. That was not, however, what made him special. What made him special was his attitude. No matter the circumstance, I could count on him for being positive and providing the encouragement that was needed to move forward.

What was your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
CO: Close race between Bruno's and Bagel and Deli. Guess the nod would go to Bagel and Deli.

Funniest moment in your time at Miami?
CO: I recall being asked by a teammate, Mike Carlton, to borrow my two-seat scooter for a date. I really wasn't a fan of lending that out but, I figured it was ok that one time. Well, I'm not saying that the scooter had anything to do with it but, that date not only resulted in a Miami Merger but, several of Mike's children have graduated or currently attend Miami. Maybe not funny but, certainly noteworthy.

Was there someone, maybe a professor or advisor that had a major impact on your time at Miami?
CO: There were two.

First was my academic advisor, Darcy Shriver. I was uncertain of what my life would be once my football career was over and Darcy was a resource for me to understand what that path looked like and then helped me focus on the classes that would get me on the path for the rest of my life. Only as I migrated through my career did I fully appreciate what Darcy had done for me and I am so pleased that years later we ran into each other at Miami and I was able to thank her for all that she had done for me during my time at Miami.

Second was my business statistics professor, Dr. Marcus Jobe. Dr. Jobe was one of the most demanding teachers I ever had but he was able to teach in a way that made difficult subject matter more easily understood by his students. What impressed me most was not only that he knew each of his students by name but that he was the most accessible professor, spending countless hours continuing to mentor his students outside of class.

Tell us about your life now. What are you doing? Any major accomplishments we should be aware of?
CO: Currently I live in Glenview, Illinois with my wife (Lisa Arnold '91) and our three children, daughter Reily (Miami '21) and sons Ryan and Brady. I am the Executive Director of the American Board of Preventive Medicine and serve on the board of directors for the American Board of Medical Specialties and am a member of the Miami University AD Circle.

Is there anything else you would like us (or others) to know about you?
CO: My wife, Lisa (Arnold) graduated from Miami in 1991 with a degree in accounting and is now a partner with The Jordan Company and is the CFO of its Operations Management Group.

What makes Miami so special?
CO: In addition to the tremendous education and beautiful campus, Miami University is special because of its alumni network. Miami alumni are some of the most successful and yet, around the world, are willing to mentor with or network for other Miami alumni, making a diploma from Miami University valuable well beyond graduation.

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