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Head Coach Jim Cole


Jim Cole '74

Head Football Coach

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Jim Cole '74 enters his 17th season at the helm of the Scots. 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 sports a career mark of 94-60-0, placing him tied in all-time wins at the College with Brooks (94-86-0, 20 seasons).

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.

 

The Alma College Percussion Ensemble performed at the prestigious Centrum Jazz Festival, an international festival in Port Townsend, Wash., in July 2007. Alma was the only college group invited to perform. “It’s a huge honor,” says faculty director Dave Zerbe. “You can’t apply to perform there; they seek you out.”

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Coach Profile

Jim Cole

Jim Cole
Graduation: 1974

Jim Cole '74 enters his 17th season at the helm of the Scots. 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.

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.

Cole sports a career mark of 94-60-0, placing him tied in all-time wins at the College with Brooks (94-86-0, 20 seasons).

Read More