Coach Monte Cater transformed a struggling football program into a national powerhouse, forging a legendary career that cemented his name in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Football Bio
On July 7, 1949, in Shelbyville, Illinois, Monte Cater, future College head coach, was born.
Alma Mater: He graduated from Millikin University in 1971.
Head Coaching Stints: He served as the head football coach at Lakeland University (WI) from 1981 to 1986, and later at Shepherd University (WV) from 1987 to 2017.
Career Record: He amassed an outstanding overall head coaching record of 275-117-2, yielding a 70.1% winning percentage.
Historic Retirement: Upon retiring following the 2017 season, Cater went out at the absolute peak of the profession, holding the title of the nation’s winningest active football coach across all NCAA levels.
Hall of Fame Landmark: In 2023, he was formally inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first representative from either Lakeland or Shepherd to be honored.
The Architecture of a Turnaround
Per the National Football Foundation, Coach was born and raised in the small community of Shelbyville, Illinois.
Monte Cater spent his early years learning the rhythms of Midwestern football before graduating from Millikin University in 1971.
Though he proved his foundational coaching prowess during a successful six-year run at Lakeland University in Wisconsin, his true legacy would be forged along the Potomac River in West Virginia.
On February 9, 1987, Cater took over a Shepherd University football program that was searching for an identity.
Cater wasted no time transforming the Rams into a dominant small-college powerhouse.
His first major breakthrough arrived in 1988, when he captured a share of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) title.
By the early 1990s, the program had evolved from a regional competitor into a national fixture.
In 1992, Cater guided Shepherd to a flawless 7-0 conference record, culminating in a historic, grit-infused 6-3 defensive battle against playoff nemesis Carson-Newman, securing the school’s first-ever NAIA playoff victory and a trip to the national semifinals.
Over his three-decade reign, Cater became the all-time leader in WVIAC coaching victories, secured 13 conference titles, and won more games at Shepherd than any collegiate football coach in the entire history of West Virginia.
When he finally blew his whistle for the last time in 2017, he stood alone as the winningest active coach in all of college football—a masterclass in consistency that rightfully earned him a permanent home in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023. (Source)
Monte Cater defined consistency and excellence throughout his 37-year head-coaching journey. He built an unparalleled legacy at Shepherd University, racking up championships and shaping countless young athletes. His ultimate induction into the College Football Hall of Fame cements his status as a true giant of small-college football.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted as part of the Class of 2023.
- Career Coaching Wins: Recorded 275 total career coaching victories, securing an impressive .701 overall winning percentage.
- WVIAC All-Time Leader: Holds the all-time coaching record for victories (190) and conference titles (13) in the history of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC).
- NCAA Division II National Runner-Up: Led the Shepherd Rams to the Division II National Championship game in 2015.
- Super Region One Titles: Captured three NCAA II Super Region One championships during his tenure.
- Conference Coach of the Year: Earned conference coach of the year honors 13 times across both the WVIAC and Mountain East Conference (MEC).
- National Coach of the Year: Awarded the Vince Lombardi Foundation Coach of the Year in 2015.
- All-America Players Coached: Mentored 24 First Team All-America players over the course of his career.
- State of West Virginia Leader: Won more football games at Shepherd than any collegiate coach at a college or university in the entire history of West Virginia.
- Regional Hall of Fames: Inducted into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2020), Shepherd Hall of Fame (2007), and the Millikin Athletics Hall of Fame (1999).