Jeff Sokol has been named the 17th head coach in the 117-year
history of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology football, effective
Jan. 3.
Sokol comes to Rose-Hulman after spending the past 11 seasons as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Chicago. He will be introduced to the Rose-Hulman and Wabash Valley communities in a news conference on Jan. 3.
He replaces Jayson Martin, who coached Rose-Hulman to a 6-4 finish this past season as an interim replacement for Steve Englehart, who departed in August to take an assistant’s job at Indiana State.
The Maroons captured UAA championships in 2000, 2005 and 2010, while recording three runner-up league finishes during his 11 years as coordinator under coach Dick Maloney.
Sokol's efforts included recruiting planning and coordination at the internationally regarded academic institution as well as 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 as the recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach. He also spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Defiance and one year as wide receivers coach at Kalamazoo.
"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 U. 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.