When Tom Schmulbach retired from Augustana last winter, it marked the end of a remarkable 30-year run at the college as both an assistant and head football coach as well as physical education instructor. In the 28 years he spent on the sidelines with the football program, the Vikings compiled a record of 223-66-1 for a winning percentage of .771. Schmulbach helped guide the Augustana gridders to 15 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin titles, 12 NCAA Division III playoff appearances and a still unmatched four consecutive national championships from 1983-86.
A native of Belleville, Illinois where he graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1965, Schmulbach was a two-way standout at offensive end and defensive end for the Maroons. He was a four-year letter winner at Western Illinois as a defensive end and graduated with a degree in physical education in 1969.
Schmulbach came to Augustana in 1982, joining the staff of legendary head coach Bob Reade, for whom he had previously served as an assistant for eight years at J.D. Darnall High School in Geneseo, Illinois. He also served as head coach at Rockridge High School in Taylor Ridge, Illinois from 1979-81. With Schmulbach installed as offensive backfield coach, the Vikings reached the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in each of his first five seasons. Augustana fell to West Georgia 14-0 in 1982, but were back each of the next four years, defeating in succession, Union (21-17), Central (21-12), Ithaca (20-7) and Salisbury State (31-3).
During the Vikings’ amazing run in the ‘80’s, Schmulbach helped lead the program to a 37-game winning streak and a 60-game unbeaten streak. He was also part of CCIW strings of 43 consecutive wins and 61 straight games without a loss and regular-season streaks of 49 straight wins and 70 games in a row without a loss.
In the eight seasons Schmulbach was in charge of the offensive backfield, he tutored nine 1,000-yard rushers and in three seasons (1983, 1984 and 1988), he had a pair of backs each reach that mark. He held that position until 1990, when he moved into the offensive coordinator role. Five years later, he received a bigger promotion when he was named as Reade’s successor following the veteran mentor’s retirement.
Schmulbach spent five years, from 1995-99, as the Vikings’ head coach, compiling a 34-13 (.723) record and leading the team to a pair of CCIW titles and one playoff appearance. During his head coaching tenure, sons Jeff and Joe both played for him. Joe, a quarterback, was a three-time All-CCIW honoree and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in1999.
A bout with cancer caused Schmulbach to step away from the sidelines following the 1999 season. He maintained his position as physical education instructor as well as taking over Augustana’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
He eased his way back into coaching in 2001, taking a volunteer assistant position on the staff of Mike Tracey at United Township High School in East Moline, Illinois. In 2002, returned to the Viking staff as an assistant for head coach Jim Barnes. He spent 10 more years at Augustana, helping guide the Vikings to a CCIW title and playoff appearance in 2005 and another conference title in 2006.
Tom is enjoying his time with wife Jan, who recently retired from a teaching position in the Rockridge school district.
At the time of his retirement, Schmulbach commented, “It has been a quick, joyful trip. I thought that the Augustana job would be a good one for me and my family and it has turned out to be that and a lot more.” He added, “Being able to watch my sons play at Augustana is clearly the highlight. That was a joyful time in our family’s life.”
