History & Facts
Two Klamath Falls football players that played for the distant Southern Oregon Timber Wolves founded the Klamath Crusaders Organization in 1996. Travel requirements and differences with the Timber Wolves management gave cause and motivation for these two players to found and organize a local team. Successful recruiting coupled with tremendous support from the community allowed the new team to get off to a great start. The Oregon Football League was formed a short time later and the Klamath Crusaders became one of the original charter members.
The Klamath Crusader Organization was initially fully owned and controlled by the players. Don Nelson and Dave McNiven came on the scene in 1999 and purchased both the Klamath Crusaders and the Merrill Stallions. Prior to the start of the 2000 season the new owners merged the Crusaders and the Stallions into one team keeping the Klamath Crusaders name. Don Nelson eventually, through a buyout, became the primary principle of the organization. The merging of the two teams and coaching staffs must have been the right thing to do because soon thereafter the Oregon Football League championship trophy became the property of the Crusaders. Season winning records became commonplace. The team has earned the opportunity to compete at the League National Tournament Level and has been nationally ranked in their league numerous times.
In the 2007 season the organization was restructured around the 'Pay It Forward' moral philosophy and the advocating and promoting of the philosophy became a significant part of the Crusaders’ mission. Spectator numbers increased dramatically during this season as the community became more aware of the Crusaders existence and mission. At the tail end of the season former players Kent Taylor and Jason Allen were added to the existing coaching staff of Don Nelson, Jim Hardin, Wayne Williams and Garry Young.
Since inception, the Crusader Organization has actively pursued and maintained its commitment to positive community involvement through support of local youth and high school football programs. Youth football camps have been organized, fully staffed and funded. The local Pop Warner football program has received countless hours of organizational and coaching time volunteered and contributed by the players and coaching staff. During the 2007 post-season the Crusaders established a college scholarship fund designed to benefit qualified and selected high school senior roster listed football players.
The Klamath Crusader Organization is a non-profit organization and relies solely upon the financial support of the community through donations, proceeds from the sales of media guide and web site advertising, game ticket sales, and sales of promotional items. The Crusaders are forever grateful for the years of financial support the community has provided.
To the sponsors, donors, supporters, volunteers and spectator fans, the Klamath Crusaders extend their sincerest thanks and appreciation and seek your continued support and participation in their efforts to ‘help make the world a better place’.
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