Monken has led Army to great success against the other service academies, winning 12 of the last 16 contests between Air Force and Navy, which includes winning five of the last seven vs. Air Force (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023), and six of the last eight over Navy (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023). Monken has captured four bowl-game victories (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021) and has led Army to win the Commander in Chief’s Trophy, a series among the other U.S. Service Academies, four times (2017, 2018, 2020, 2023) in the last seven seasons, also retaining the trophy in 2021. Since 2017, Monken and the Black Knights have enjoyed a 56-32 (.636) win-loss record, the best among the Service Academy programs.
In 2023, Monken led Army to recapture the coveted Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the 10th time in school history, awarded annually to each season’s winner of the triangular rivalry series between Army, Air Force and Navy. The CIC Trophy was Army’s fourth in the past seven seasons, as Army only had four combined in the previous 39 years.
The Black Knights rallied to win four in a row to end the 2023 season to finish 6-6, including over Air Force and Navy. One of the biggest victories in Monken’s career and school history came as Army upset rival undefeated #17 AP-ranked Air Force, 23-3 at Empower Field at Mile High, snapping their 13-game winning streak which dated back to the previous season. The win was Army’s first over an AP-ranked opponent since 1972, when it also defeated #19 Air Force. It was also Army’s first win of 20 or more points vs. an AP-ranked opponent since 1958 beating #18 South Carolina, 45-8. It was only the second time that Army had beaten a team that entered the game 8-0 or better. The other instance was November 13, 1976, vs. Colgate, winning 29-13.
Monken’s team was led by several notable contributors which included quarterback Bryson Daily, who started 10 games, becoming only the second Army QB to rush and pass for over 900 yards in a season. Daily accounted for a team-high 14 touchdowns (seven rushing, seven passing). Daily was joined by standout freshman running back Kanye Udoh in the backfield who was named the ECAC Division I FBS Rookie of the Year. Udoh rushed for 524 yards, trailing only Daily for the team lead. His 524 yards on the ground ranked 10th among all FBS freshmen in the country on the season.
Defensively, team captain Leo Lowin led the unit in tackles for the second consecutive season with 92 total tackles. He added 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles that ranked tied for third most in the country. Lowin was also selected as one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. It is considered by many to be the “Academic “Heisman” and nicknamed as such.
13 players were selected to the 2023 Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent Team. Army saw four first-team selections, OL Connor Finucane, DB Quindrelin Hammonds, LB Leo Lowin, and DB Bo Nicolas-Paul. LB Jimmy Ciarlo, QB Bryson Daily, OL Jackson Filipowicz, TE Joshua Lingenfelter, K Quinn Maretzki, DB Jabari Moore, RB Kanye Udoh, DB Jabril Williams (Special Teams) and WR Isaiah Alston were named to the second team.
On September 18, 2023, Monken agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Army West Point.
In 2022, with a Week 3 home victory over Villanova, Monken logged his then 59th career win at Army West Point, breaking a tie with the legendary Army coach Charles Daly and surpassing his mark for second place on the Academy’s all-time win list. First is Red Blaik with 121 career victories.
In the 2022 campaign, he led Army to overcome a difficult 1-4 start by winning five out of its last seven games to finish 6-6, culminating with a double-OT victory over arch-rival Navy, the first-ever overtime game in the history of the Army-Navy Game series. The win over Navy marked victories for Army in five of the last seven meetings since 2016.
The offense was led by Senior QB Tyhier Tyler, who posted a career-high 12 rushing touchdowns, which was second in the FBS by all quarterbacks. He also was the first Army quarterback with 10+ rushing touchdowns since Kelvin Hopkins Jr totaled 17 in 2018. The Senior quarterback finishes his Army career with 24 rushing touchdowns, T-3rd most by an Army QB, which is also good for T-10th on Army’s all-time rushing TD list. With Tyler primarily at the helm, the Black Knights ranked second in the country rushing for 289.4 yards per game. Army’s 38 rushing touchdowns were tied for second-most only behind Tennessee (39).
The defense also saw consistent improvement throughout the season. During Army’s 5-2 finish, the defense only gave up 15.0 points per game. During this span of the season, Army’s 105 points allowed were tied for the sixth-fewest in the country. The special teams units made big plays throughout the season, including a punt return touchdown by Tyrell Robinson and two blocked punts for touchdowns against UConn and Navy. Army’s three special teams TDs were second most in the FBS.
Seven Black Knights were selected to Phil Steele’s Postseason All-Independent Team in first-team selections, C Connor Bishop, LB Andre Carter II, S Marquel Broughton and Tyrell Robinson who was selected as a punt returner. QB Tyhier Tyler, OL Connor Finucane and LB Leo Lowin were named to the second team. Additionally, Andre Carter participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, a post-season college all-star game for top NFL prospects. Carter signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.
Outscoring all opponents 427-290 in 13 games in 2021, the Black Knights finished the season 9-4, recording the sixth winning season in the eight seasons under Head Coach Jeff Monken. The Black Knights’ success led him to earn 2021 ECAC Coach of the Year honors.
The Black Knights won a fourth-consecutive Armed Forces Bowl in their fifth Bowl game in six years. Facing Missouri for the first time in 40 years, the Black Knights secured their fourth Armed Forces Bowl victory in 11 years. The win also marks as Army’s first win against an SEC opponent since 2009. The Black Knights started the season 4-0 for the first time in 25 years as well as having an unbeaten record in November, accounting for only the third time in 21 years to mark the feat, two of those coming under Monken (2018, 2021). A dynamic Black Knight explosive attack was led by QB Christian Anderson who threw five touchdowns for 34 yards-or-more, while also rushing for the most single-game yards by a quarterback in the NCAA with 236 (Week 4). Anderson also marked three 50 yard-or-more rushing touchdowns. 2021 also saw Army’s first Associated Press All-American in 31 years, where LB Andre Carter’s career-high 15.5 sacks set a new Academy record for total sacks in a single season. Carter was additionally named an All-American by Phil Steele, marking also as an Academy first. Nine Black Knights were selected to Phil Steele’s All-Independent Team, along with Team Captain LB Arik Smith selected as the 2021 Defender of the Nation and to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team. Smith, the team’s leading tackler in back-to-back seasons was also a Campbell Trophy semifinalist and the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl MVP.
The 2020 season Monken led the Black Knights to post a 9-3 record including rivalry wins over both Navy and Air Force. Army was led by the nation’s top defensive unit, as the Black Knights ranked first in the FBS in Total Defense, allowing only 275.3 yards per game. The Black Knights also ranked in the country’s top 5 in scoring defense (2nd – 14.83 ppg), red-zone defense (2nd – .645 scoring pct.) and passing yards allowed (2nd – 160.8 ypg).
On the offensive side of the ball, Army displayed one of the most successful and diverse rushing attacks in the country thanks to Monken’s triple-option scheme. The Cadets totaled over 250 rush yards in seven contests, including 441 vs Abilene Christian (Oct.3) and 439 vs. Louisiana-Monroe (Sep. 12). Those marks were good for the 6th and 7th highest totals in a single game in the FBS during the 2020 season, respectively. Paced by a balanced rushing attack, the Cadets dominated time-of-possession over their opposition in 2020, holding the ball for an average of 34 minutes per game. The 2020 season started strong, as the Black Knights defeated Middle Tennessee State, 42-0, in the season opener, the first Army shutout since blanking Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo., 21-0, on Nov. 4, 2017. The 42-0 victory was Army’s largest shutout victory over an FBS school since 1963, when it defeated Wake Forest, 47-0. In the 2020 version of America’s Game, Army’s defensive unit held Navy’s rushing attack to just 108 yards, the least amount of rushing yards by the Mids since 2001. The 15-0 shutout of Navy was the first time since Nov. 29, 1969, that Army shut out the Mids. The 2020 Commander-in-Chief Trophy Champions also climbed into the national rankings throughout the season, twice finding themselves in the AP Top 25 (22nd- Weeks 3-4). It was just the fourth time since 1970 that Army won at least six games in its first seven tilts. Monken coached several players to postseason honors in 2020 including USA Today Second-Team All-American Jon Rhattigan.
The 2019 season featured five wins for the Black Knights which was ranked among the best in the nation once again. Since the start of the 2016 season, Army is averaging a nation’s best 327.8 yards per game on the ground. The Blacks Knights own the best third down conversion rate dating back to the 2010 season, converting 813-of-1,711 third downs (47.5 percent). Army averaged 297.2 rushing yards per game (3rd nationally) in 2019 and had 3,863 net rushing yards total (3rd). The Black Knights’ 45 rushing scores were tied for second in the nation, while their 5.2 yards per rush was 17th. The Cadets had three plays go for 80 or more yards (all touchdowns) in 2019, which finished tied for the nation’s lead. Army had 19 rushes of 30 or more yards this season, good for a tie for sixth in the nation. It finished tied for 12th in 40-plus rushes (9), 13th in 10-plus yard rushes (93) and tied for 17th in 20-plus (28). The Black Knights were fifth nationally in passing defense (178.9), tied for 27th in fumble recoveries (10), 27th in first downs allowed (234) and 30th in total defense (342.3). West Point was eighth nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (38.2) and 12th in fewest penalties per game (4.6). Army is now 17-2 in its last 19 games played at Michie Stadium dating back to the 2016 season. This 2019 season marked Army’s fourth consecutive winning season at home. The Cadets’ 3,863 yards on the ground this season is good for sixth in program history. Since taking over as head coach in 2014, Monken and his teams own four of the top six single-season rushing marks in program history. In the VMI win, Army finished with 594 rushing yards, good for third-most in program history and the most since Nov. 18, 1989, vs. Colgate. Army’s defense held UMass to 125 total yards, a program record for the fewest allowed to an FBS opponent. UMass was limited to just 19 yards in the second half. The Black Knights held the Minutemen to 26 rushing yards on 26 attempts, the fewest since allowing 10 to Lafayette on Oct. 15, 2016.
In 2018 Monken led the Cadets to a historic year as his squad became nationally ranked in early November for the first time in 22 years (1996). They remained in the Top-25 throughout the rest of the season and finished ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 20 in the Amway Coaches Poll. The year was highlighted by a program-record 11 wins, marking the first time in Academy history the Black Knights registered 10-plus wins in back-to-back seasons. Army also won the Commander in Chief’s trophy in consecutive seasons for the first time in program lore, while also garnering the Lambert Trophy for the first time in 60 years. The Black Knights became the first three-time winner of the Armed Forces Bowl as well that season after they routed Houston, 70-14, on Dec. 22. The 70 points put up by Army in that contest tied an FBS record for points scored in a bowl game. To cap the 2018 season, the Cadets won 13 games in a row at home and finished their second-straight season going unbeaten at Michie Stadium. They held five consecutive opponents to 14 or fewer points to end the year as well and finished 11-0 when leading at the half. Army closed the year ranked first nationally in third down conversion percentage (.571), fourth down conversion percentage (.861), and time of possession (38:33), while also sitting second in rushing offense with 312.5 yards per game. Twelve cadet-athletes were named to Phil Steele’s All-Independent Team, and Monken received national praise after winning the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award and the Vince Lombardi Award for National College Coach of the Year. He was also named a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant and Eddie Robinson Awards for Coach of the Year.
In 2017 Monken led Army to its most successful season in over two decades, earning 10 victories, the Commander in Chief’s Trophy and a victory in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Black Knights won the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rushing title by averaging 362.3 rushing yards per game and finished with 50 rushing touchdowns, which broke the program record for a single season set a year prior. On the other side of the ball, Army was third in the nation in red zone defense and 14th against the pass. The Black Knights held opponents to 22 points per game, ending Air Force’s 306-game scoring streak with a 21-0 victory at Falcon Stadium. It was the first shutout against a service academy since 1969. The Black Knights were also rewarded for their success as the ECAC Division I FBS Team of the Year.
The 2016 season was a memorable one for the Black Knights under Monken. He led them to their first win over Navy since 2001 and a victory in a bowl game. The last time the Black Knights accomplished both feats in the same season was in 1984. Army was second in the nation in rushing offense and ran for a then Academy single-season 46 touchdowns, which eclipsed the 1945 national championship team. Defensively, Army was consistently in the Top-10 in total defense and closed out the year fourth in the nation.
In 2015, Monken coached Army to a pair of wins over Bucknell and Eastern Michigan. The Black Knights had five players reach 100 yards rushing in a game that year and had three different quarterbacks throw for 100 yards. Signal callers Ahmad Bradshaw and Chris Carter ran and threw for 100 yards in their career debuts. Army won on the road for the first time since 2010 with a 58-36 win over Eastern Michigan as well. The Black Knights closed the season ranked 12th in the country in rushing offense at 244.3 yards per game. Linebacker Andrew King finished 21st in the nation in tackles for loss with an average of 2.1 per game and 26th in fumbles recovered with two.
In his first season at Army, Monken guided the Cadets to home victories over Buffalo, Ball State and Fordham, in addition to a dramatic win against Connecticut at Yankee Stadium. Under his guidance, running back Larry Dixon, linebacker Jeremy Timpf, defensive back Josh Jenkins and offensive lineman Matt Hugenberg earned 11 citations on postseason all-star teams. Two players, Joe Drummond and Dixon, competed in The Medal of Honor Bowl Game and East-West Shrine Game, respectively, as well. Army was fifth in the country in rushing offense at 296.5 yards per game in Monken’s inaugural season and sixth in fewest penalties per game with just 4.08 infractions per contest. He tutored a host of players who were listed in the national rankings as well. Timpf was seventh in the nation in solo tackles per game and 23rd in tackles per game. Jenkins was eighth in the country in blocked kicks and 33rd in interceptions per game, and both Lamar Johnson-Harris and Xavier Moss ranked 11th in punt return touchdowns. Dixon was nationally ranked in rushing yards per carry (30th), rushing yards (39th) and rushing yards per game (41st). With the Black Knights’ 47-39 win against Buffalo, Monken became the first head coach to win his first game since Bob Sutton did so in 1991 with a victory over Colgate. Prior to that, the last Army coach to win his first game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent was Ed Cavanaugh in 1980.
Monken came to the banks of the Hudson River following a successful stint as head coach at Georgia Southern. He spent four seasons as head coach of the Eagles after learning the triple-option offense under one of the nation’s premier option proponents, Paul Johnson, during assistant coaching stints at Navy and Georgia Tech.
In his four seasons at Georgia Southern, Monken authored a 38-16 mark and spearheaded the program’s transition to the elite Football Bowl Subdivision level from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) ranks. Georgia Southern, which joined the Sun Belt Conference following Monken’s tenure, was a member of the FCS and qualified for the NCAA playoffs in all three eligible seasons under him. The Eagles advanced to the national semifinals each year, while also posting double-digit victory totals. Monken guided tradition-rich Georgia Southern to some of the biggest wins in school history, with the most memorable arguably being a 26-20 victory at Florida at the vaunted “Swamp.” Despite that headline-grabbing victory, the Eagles were not eligible for the FCS playoffs that season due to their transitional status.
Monken and Johnson are the only coaches in Georgia Southern school history to win at least 10 games in each of their first three seasons. A finalist for the 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award, Monken guided the Eagles to 10 wins his first season, 11 in his second and 10 in his third. His 2013 squad posted a 7-4 mark, including the stunning, season-ending upset of Florida in Gainesville. Under Monken’s guidance, Georgia Southern was one of the top rushing teams at the FCS level, claiming the NCAA rushing title in 2012 at 399.36 yards per contest. Walter Payton Award candidate Jerick McKinnon and running back Dominique Swope established the NCAA record for rushing yards by teammates with 3,063. Monken coached a lengthy list of all-stars, including the school’s highest-ever National Football League draft choice, safety J.J. Wilcox, a third-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.
Georgia Southern was ranked No. 1 in both FCS polls for seven weeks in 2011 and stopped Wofford, 31-10, to win its ninth Southern Conference championship. Five players were named All-America, Brent Russell was selected Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Monken earned conference Coach of the Year plaudits and Swope was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. Home playoff wins against Old Dominion and Maine were part of the Eagles’ memorable 11-3 campaign. Monken got off to a great start in his first year a Georgia Southern, knocking off top-ranked and previously unbeaten Appalachian State en route to a 10-5 season. The Eagles ended the year with three straight wins to qualify for the postseason and registered three playoff victories to advance to the national semifinals.
In addition to the success on the field, Monken helped Georgia Southern re-emerge academically with the team’s cumulative grade point average ranking as the highest in school history in each of his first two seasons. Not only were the Eagles successful in the classroom and on the football field under Monken, but the players and staffs were part of several community service programs and local events. Monken was named Georgia Southern’s head coach in November of 2009, continuing a family history of football coaches. Jeff’s father, Mike, and a dozen family members have coached at the high school, collegiate or professional ranks. Monken’s first head coaching job came after accumulating 20 years of experience as an assistant, 13 of them with his mentor Johnson. Monken coached slotbacks at Georgia Southern from 1997 to 2001 before joining Johnson first at Navy and then Georgia Tech.
As an assistant coach at Georgia Southern, Monken was part of two NCAA FCS National Championship squads (1999 and 2000) and five-straight playoff teams. Georgia Southern was among the top-five rushing teams in all five seasons and twice led the nation in rushing. The Eagles ranked in the top-15 in scoring four out of five seasons as well.
After serving as an assistant at Georgia Southern, Monken accepted a position on Johnson’s coaching staff at Navy. Monken not only mentored slotbacks, but he also later added special teams coordinator duties. In Annapolis, Monken helped the Midshipmen to five straight Commander in Chief trophies and five consecutive bowl game appearances, including a 10-win season in 2004. Following his time at Navy, Monken moved to Georgia Tech where for two seasons he served as the slotbacks coach and special teams coordinator. The Yellow Jackets posted double-digit wins in 2009 and captured the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, although that title was later vacated. Monken began his coaching career in 1989 as a graduate assistant at Hawai’i and later spent one season at Arizona State. Monken moved to Buffalo as the wide receivers and tight ends coach who also handled recruiting. He served on the staffs at Morton (Ill.) High School as the head coach and at Concordia University in Illinois as the offensive line coach.
A native of Joliet, Ill., Monken played wide receiver for four years and earned two varsity letters in track and field while earning his bachelor’s degree from Millikin University in 1989. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2013 and collected his master’s degree from Hawai’i in 1991.
Monken and his wife Beth reside at West Point with their three daughters, Isabelle, Amelia and Evangeline.
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