Jim Cole '74
Head Football Coach
Email Coach ColeJim Cole ‘74 is entering his 19th season at the helm of the Scots and has a record of 104-70, earning his 100th career coaching win on September 6, 2008, when Alma defeated Bluffton University, 49-0, at Bahlke Field.
In 2004, Cole led the Scots to the MIAA title and a berth in the NCAA Division III national playoffs, the second time in three years the Maroon and Cream advanced to the NCAA postseason. Alma hosted its second-ever playoff game as Carthage (Wis.) defeated the Scots 31-28 in ‘04. In 2002, Cole led the Scots to the MIAA title and a berth in the NCAA Division III national playoffs and in 1999, Cole led the Scots to their first MIAA title since 1988. With that title, the Scots advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in school history.
Before becoming Alma’s 28th head football coach in 1991, Cole put in seven seasons at the high school ranks at Midland and New Baltimore-Anchor Bay, and eight years as an assistant under Phil Brooks at Alma. Cole is the all-time winningest football coach at Alma College.
A former All-MIAA and All-District quarterback for the Scots, Cole draws on the championship experiences of playing for the 1970, ‘71 and ‘72 MIAA co-champions and coaching the 1988 co-champ’s defense. He was a graduate assistant for Central Michigan University’s 1974 national championship team and a volunteer coach during the Chippewas 1990 Mid-America Conference title run. His women’s track teams at Alma won or shared seven straight MIAA titles from 1985-91.
Cole’s wife, Wendy ‘87, teaches in the Alma Public Schools. They have three children; Scotty, Jaycee and Taylor.
