Monmouth College Athletics

Internal Control and Administration

The emergence of varsity athletics and the construction of suitable athletic facilities in the early years of the 20th century brought with it the necessity for control and regulation. In the fall of 1901 the college established its first “Athletic Board of Control”, which was composed of two students, two trustees and one faculty member. The board’s primary responsibility was to govern the individual sports, the coaches and managers, and the actions of their respective athletes. This group changed membership over the years in order to adequately operate the Athletic Department’s activity and remained in effect until the mid-1940’s.

During the early years of athletics at Monmouth the college witnessed tremendous turnover, not only among its student-athletes but also the coaches of the teams. Thirteen different men, usually doubling as football coach, were employed as athletic director between 1897 and 1924. The most notable of these was Clifford Bell (1905-07), who coached the college’s first championship football team, and Archie Hahn (1910-11), a four-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter from the University of Michigan. 

Upon entry into the Midwest Conference in 1924, Monmouth hired Herbert L. Hart as football coach and athletic director. This proved to be a very profitable move as Hart stayed at Monmouth for 14 years and was the department’s first long-term athletic director. His presence in the position gave stability to the athletic program and his teams were among the most talented and successful in the school’s history. The M-Club, Monmouth’s varsity letterwinner organization which was founded in 1921, grew and flourished during Hart’s years. In the 1930's the number of coaches also grew to reflect the increase in sport activity.

The department received a huge benefit when Bobby Woll joined the coaching staff near the end of Hart’s tenure. Woll, the only Monmouth football player to have his jersey retired, ended his playing days in 1934 and immediately began a 40-year coaching career at Monmouth. His relationship with the Athletic Department and involvement in the business of the college continued until his death in 1999. Under the direction of Woll and Glenn “Jelly” Robinson the Monmouth athletic program survived the lean years when most men were called into service during World War II. Woll held the position of athletic director throughout the 1940’s and he and Robinson were the mainstays of the Fighting Scot coaching staff during a difficult period in the college’s history.

Charles Larson led the department into the 1950’s and stayed as athletic director through 1962. The AD position was held by Henry Andrew (1965-71), Jack Steger (1971-76) and Woll for two more short stints before Terry Glasgow was promoted to that position in 1978. Glasgow, who was instrumental in solidifying the position of women’s sports at Monmouth, was originally hired as basketball and baseball coach in 1972 and immediately fielded championship contenders in both sports. His teams won numerous Midwest Conference titles and qualified several times for the NCAA Division III national tournament. He served as athletic director until his retirement in the spring of 2008.

Monmouth alum Roger Haynes took over as AD when Glasgow retired. Haynes follows in the footsteps of Bobby Woll, who came to Monmouth as a student and stayed as a coach and administrator.