Hall of Fame
I'll never forget my first head football coaching victory at Coe or my first Midwest Conference Championship. Rick Kleinhans plays a starring role in both of those memories. In 1971, my first year as head coach and Rick's sophomore year at Coe, he contributed 182 of a school and NCAA record 719 rushing yards in an 87-0 pasting of Beloit College. That was and remains the second most points scored and the second largest margin of victory in Coe football history. In addition to completing five of eight passes, Rick scored on runs of 27 and 77 yards. A testament to his versatility and athleticism, Rick split time between tailback and quarterback in 1972 with an offense described by the Cedar Rapids Gazette as a "Chinese fire drill." In 1973, my third year as head coach and Rick's third year as the starting quarterback, he earned all-conference and team MVP honors while guiding the Kohawks to their first Midwest Conference Championship in nine years. Rick set school records that season with 1,006 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. As football has evolved into more of a passing game in the three decades since his graduation, Rick remains among Coe's all-time leaders in several categories. He graduated as Coe's all-time leader with 315 career pass attempts the same number that Joe Brannen attempted last season- and currently stands ninth on that list. Rick also distinguished himself on the Kohawk baseball team, where he played left field and was one of the team's leading sluggers while earning four letters. A member and officer of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, Rick participated in Coe's ROTC program and was commissioned as an Air Force officer in 1974. He served for 13 years as an instructor pilot, separating in 1988 as a major. He is now a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Rick continued to pursue his love for athletics after graduation. He spent a year as a volunteer assistant for the Coe football team and coached youth baseball, youth soccer and boys' basketball for several years. He also played varsity fast-pitch softball and flag football in the Air Force. Tonight, for his outstanding contributions to Coe College athletics - and memories I am honored to welcome Rick Kleinhans to the Athletic Hall of Fame.
