Rose-Hulman Hires Jeff Sokol as New Football Coach
By: Jason Pensky
Updated: January 3, 2011
TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Jeff Sokol has been named the 17th head coach in the 117-year history of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology football.
Sokol comes to Rose-Hulman after spending the past 11 seasons as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at the University of Chicago, a member of NCAA Division III and the University Athletic Association.
The Maroons captured UAA championships in 2000, 2005 and 2010, while recording three runner-up league finishes during his 11 years as coordinator under head coach Dick Maloney.
Sokol's efforts included recruiting planning and coordination at the internationally regarded academic institution.
His experiences at Chicago included managing the offensive staff, creating the weekly scouting report, executing all game-day play calls and serving as the team's strength coach for five years.
Prior to his Chicago experience, Sokol spent one season at fellow UAA member Case Western Reserve University as the recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach. He also spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Defiance College and one year as wide receivers coach at Kalamazoo College.
"Jeff has spent the biggest part of his coaching career at quality schools in Chicago and Case Western, allowing him to quickly adapt to the academics here at Rose-Hulman. He has paid his dues and is now ready to be a head coach in charge of his own program. He has a strong recruiting background and will be comfortable recruiting the type of player we need to be successful at Rose-Hulman," said athletic director Jeff Jenkins.
Chicago established a modern era school record with eight wins in 2010, including victories over Case Western Reserve and Washington University to win the league championship. The team's 13 victories in the last two years mark the most in the modern era of Chicago football.
Sokol earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Kalamazoo in 1996 and completed a master's degree in education from Defiance in 1999. He inherits a Rose-Hulman program that has recorded five consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1986-90, including a 6-4 mark in 2010.
