Hall of Fame
Being number one has always held special meaning in the world of athletics. It's the mark of a champion. A symbol of perfection. It's something coaches and players alike strive to be. Tonight, we honor the greatest number one in the history of Coe athletics - Carey Bender. Over his four-year career, Carey established 18 NCAA Division III records and seven all-division records, including 528 points scored and 7,970 all-purpose yards. Including two playoff games, Carey rushed 967 times for 6,271 yards and 71 touchdowns, caught 118 passes for 1,787 yards and 16 touchdowns, and even completed 18 passes, 10 of which were touchdowns. Carey was three times named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Midwest Conference, twice led the nation in rushing, and was presented the Gagliardi Trophy and the Melberger Award after his senior season in 1994. Both awards have been described as the Heisman Trophy of Division III football. Following graduation from Marion High School, Carey enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa. After redshirting his first season, he looked for a smaller school that was less business about football and more fun. Our team had just graduated our starting running back and the college had recently built Clark Field. Coe and Carey were a perfect fit. Carey made an immediate impact and put Coe football on the map. Our teams were a combined 35-6 with Carey in the backfield. We won three Midwest Conference titles from 1991-1994 and advanced to the NCAA playoffs in 1991 and 1993. In his final season, Carey ran for a Division III record 2,243 yards and a record 29 touchdowns. It was his fourth 1,000-yard season. Carey was "King of the Cutback." Nobody could stop flowing and he could cut back across the grain and be by himself. At five feet, eight inches, he could change levels and stay low without ever stopping his feet. He had a lot of natural ability and was extremely focused. When the game was over, Carey would sign autographs. Like his parents, he was very gracious and humble for everything that happened to him. Carey's professional career began on the scout team for the National Football League's Buffalo Bills. He also spent one season as the starting tailback for NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores. Carey is currently a regional sales manager with KB Home. Ten years later, no one at any level has scored more than eight touchdowns in a game, like Carey did in his final collegiate contest against Beloit in 2004. No duo has ever combined for more yards in one game than the 519 accumulated by Carey and Jason Whitaker against Grinnell in 2003. Carey ran for 417 yards in that contest, which at the time were the most yards in history by any college player at any level. Tonight, for his outstanding contributions to Coe College athletics, I am privileged to welcome Carey Bender to the Athletic Hall of Fame.
