McKendree University Athletics

Jim Monken kicks off his seventh season on the Bearcat coaching staff, and will once again guide the McKendree kicking game.

Monken earned 177 wins in 32 seasons as a high school head coach. He is the oldest of five brothers who all coached high school football in the state of Illinois.

A four-time Coach of the Year recipient, Monken is an inductee into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the St. Louis Metro Football Coaches Hall of Fame. In addition to his achievements as a football coach, Monken served as the varsity baseball and track coach at East St. Louis Assumption Catholic High School.

Monken played football for three years at Quincy College before entering the military. After his discharge from the United States Army, Monken came to McKendree University. He completed requirements for a bachelor's degree in education in 1960 before embarking on his coaching career. He later earned a master's degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Monken and his wife Barbara reside in Swansea. They have three children: Mona, Lisa and Jimmy.