 As an individual athlete, Cretzmeyer never won an individual Big Ten title, but set school records for "points scored in a season" (144½), and also had a career record (355) that is still standing (as of 1993).His 220-meter hurdles were twice listed in the annual "best in the world" lists, but most often he found himself competing against the legendary Jesse Owens, which kept him off of the winner lists.His first coaching job was in Harrisburg, Illinois in 1938, where he was the hand-picked choice to succeed Drake basketball star Bucky O'Connor.