Jeff Monken remarked, “Giving your son a skill is better than giving him a thousand pieces of gold,” in reference to Father. He always dreamed of being a teacher and a leader because his dad was a high school football coach. Monken really loves coaching and admires his dad a lot. But there were definitely times when he found it tough as a grad assistant.

His dad’s skills, though, led to the coach’s success. On December 24, 2013, Monken was appointed the 37th individual HC in the history of the Army, and he will begin his 11th season in that role in 2024. His record as head coach is 108-71, while his record at Army is 70-55. On top of that, Monken has guided the Army to victory against the other service academies, winning 12 of the previous 16 meetings between the Air Force and Navy. Monken has led the Army to four consecutive Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy victories in the last 7 seasons, and he has also kept the trophy in 2021. He therefore follows in his father’s footsteps; but are you aware of his background?

Who is Jeff Monken’s Dad?

“Talk about some influential men, those five boys produced seven sons who are football coaches. There’s 12 of us in two generations that do this for a living,” said Jeff. Mike Monken, the father of Jeff Morken, was born into a Southern Illinois family that would go on to establish itself as one of the top coaching dynasties in the Midwest. Jeff growing up during a period when five of the Monken brothers—all of whom have since been elected into the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame—were Illinois high school head coaches. According to Jeff, his father’s work ethic, humility, discipline, love for people, and dedication to others were what made him unique. Mike was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the eyes of many, including Jeff, decades prior to a monument being placed on a wall.

Despite this, Mike spent more than 30 years coaching at Joilet East and Joilet Central High in Illinois. Jeff’s mother, Nancy Monken, and Mike hardly missed a game throughout Jeff’s four years as Georgia Southern coach. They traveled to Statesboro, Georgia, for home games from their home in the Chicago region. “It’s 925 miles from door to door. A 15-hour drive. West Point is 774 miles mapped out,” Mike stated. You can see, then, how Jeff’s parents got involved in his coaching. Do you know his mother’s statement about him?! 

Who is Monken’s Mom?

“Jeff Monken was born to be a football coach,” Nancy added. Nancy Monken recounted that there were footballs in the first two planters that were brought to her hospital room in honor of Jeff’s arrival in April 1967. Nancy Monken declared, “Football is our family’s life,” upon the announcement of her son as the 37th head football coach of the Army. Although not much of Nancy Monken’s personal life or past is known to the public, it is obvious that she has helped Jeff on his path to becoming a successful coach.

However, Jeff’s family has a long history of coaching; his father, Mike, and brother, Tom, are among the numerous members who have held coaching positions at some level. Ted Monken, Jeff’s brother, was a coach at West Chicago and St. Charles East. Over the past few decades, the Monkens have been high school coaches in the Chicagoland region. His four brothers, including Jeff’s uncle Bob Monken, who coached at Lake Park and established the Illinois Football Coaches Association’s All-State program in the 1990s, were all high school football coaches. Jeff is now in his turn. Looking forward to seeing what that young Army coach does next!