(Audubon) Today’s “Why I Coach” feature is in memory of former Audubon coach Bob Monahan. KSOM/KS95 sports caught up with his longtime assistant and three former players to honor the coach who passed away earlier this month at the age of 64.
Bob Monahan guided the Audubon boys basketball team to state tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000. He also oversaw the Wheeler boys track and cross country programs for many years. Monte Reibhoff coached alongside Monahan for several years. “We had a great time together. Bob was one of those guys that taught me real early you can’t get too emotional on things. A lot of young coaches when we come out of college think everything is about winning and he kind of put things in perspective for me right away. He taught me to relax and coach and he taught me a lot of values.”
Riebhoff recalls the work coach Monahan put in with the youth program being a big key to the success of the program. “Bob was pretty humble. He was not one that was into all the accolades and things like that’. He was about the kids, he always was. I’ve got so many stories I’d love to share. He had great character and he was enjoyable to work under. His demeanor made coaching a lot of fun.”
Riebhoff remembers coach Monahan always making things fun, especially during some of their time away from coaching. They’d golf and play city league basketball and even had some fun adventures in Iowa City with the famous Dill Hill Run. “So we didn’t have to pay parking we’d run down this hill through people’s yards in the middle of the night. One time his wife got caught on a clothesline and got knocked down. We’d have to jump over a railroad track, cross Coralville Avenue, and run up to Carver Hawkeye Arena. That was our Dill Hill Run.”
Scott Weber remembers Monahan being a big part of his life for many years from elementary PE to has various coaching roles. “Cross Country, track, basketball…Bob was always somebody that was willing to be there for us. If we needed anything he’d be there and took the time to teach us a lot of different things. He was a great guy. Very sorry to hear about his passing, it’s a sad deal.”
Coach Monahan was popular among the players. “It was awesome to play for Bob. He kind of let us handle our own teams. He wasn’t high pressure. He would listen to what we had to say. He was very gracious in moments of defeat. He’d come in after we’d win big games and have a great time with us and laugh. Just an overall good guy to be around and very supportive.”
Monahan invested a lot of time into his teams and was very supportive of his athletes. “He always pushing us to be better than what we were and never letting us settle for anything but our best. That’s what I always appreciated about coach.”
Curt Mace points out Monahan was not only impactful as a coach, but also as a PE teacher. “He was a real guy. He wasn’t just that hard driving coach. He got to know you. He cared about you and you felt that. He was a good coach. We were always prepared. We always had our scouting report and I knew jersey numbers and what was going to be coming my way on the court. His demeanor was just good. He never got too hot and was real steady.”
Mace says coach Monahan always knew which concession stands had the best popcorn. Steve Ahrendsen shares one of perhaps the most famous Monahan stories. He missed one of the biggest games they ever hosted. When state Tri-Center and Cary Cochran came to town, Monahan was at home listening in his basement. “The biggest game we probably had in Audubon in 15 years. Two nights before we were playing at Missouri Valley and there was no love lost.” Audubon was up big when a Missouri Valley player knocks down one of the Audubon players. “Monahan just goes crazy, goes berserk. Probably because he’s mad at the refs and mad that one of his players just got laid out. He gets kicked out of the game.” By rule he had to sit out the next game, “Here we are with the biggest game of our careers, Tri-Center is coming to Audubon. Literally there were people standing in the hallway for this game. Looking back I wonder if he meant to do that to get us pumped up and motivated.”
Ahrendsen says if you ever heard Monahan yell your full name you knew you were in trouble. “You just wanted to play hard for him. You realize once you move on that there’s very few people that you still call coach when you see them. Every time you saw those guys you’d still call them coach because you kind of still wish you were playing for them.”
Ahrendsen adds, “He was one of a kind. He’ll be missed by so many people. He’s definitely left his mark on Audubon.”
Previous Coaches
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
