After a long life of coaching football and mentoring young people, 1953 Monmouth College graduate Ken Geiger passed away on Thursday, January 21st at the age of 89.
Geiger graduated from Fenwick High School in 1949 and would spend the next 60 years involved in the sport of football in some capacity. After playing high school football with the Fenwick Friars, Geiger attended Monmouth College, where he became an All Conference offensive lineman for the Fighting Scots. He helped lead the Scots to consecutive conference football championships during his junior and senior seasons at Monmouth. He was also a part of the Fighting Scots baseball program, earning three varsity letters.
After getting a Bachelor of Science degree at Monmouth College, Geiger served with the 101st Airborne Division in Korea. He continued his education at the University of Illinois, earning a master’s degree and working with the Fighting Illini football program as an offensive line coach. He also spent time with the University of Missouri’s football program, while obtaining a doctorate in education from the college. Geiger would return to Monmouth College as an offensive line coach on an undefeated conference championship team in 1972.
His coaching path would take him to Morton East and West High Schools in the Chicago area, where at various times he held positions as head football coach, wrestling coach, athletic director and department chair. While at Morton, he was a pivotal figure in recruiting for the Fighting Scots, getting many Morton football players scholarships to attend Monmouth College. According to a story on the Fenwick High School website, together with other Chicago suburban coaches, he was instrumental in bringing about the IHSA football playoff system in 1974. After retiring from coaching high school football, he took jobs as a scout for the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints.
He was inducted into the Monmouth College’s M Club Hall of Fame in 1996, the IHSA Hall of Fame and is an emeritus member of the American Association of Football Coaches. The Geiger family was named Monmouth College’s Family of the Year in 2011. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sheryl, and five children.
