IRVING, Texas – Former Shepherd University head football coach Monte Cater has been selected to the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class. Cater is one of four head coaches that join 18 First Team All-Americans in this year's class.
"I can't think of a more deserving person for this esteemed honor than Coach Cater," said Shepherd University Vice President for Athletics Chauncey Winbush. "As one of his former players, I know that I can speak for all football alumni as we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Coach Cater for the opportunities he provided us as student-athletes. He changed the lives of so many people through his service as a coach at Shepherd. I know that Ram Nation is extremely proud of Coach Cater for earning this tremendous honor."
After 37 years as a head coach, Monte Cater retired following the 2017 season as the nation's winningest active football coach among all NCAA levels, earning wins in more than 70 percent of his games and notching a total of 275 victories. The Shelbyville, Illinois, native now becomes the first person from either Lakeland University (WI) or Shepherd University (WV) to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
Cater's teams made 13 postseason appearances (NAIA – 2, Division II – 11) during his career, and his teams appeared 16 times in the final national rankings. In 2015, he led Shepherd to the Division II championship game, finishing as the national runner-up. His teams claimed three Super Region One titles, and Shepherd led the nation in rush defense from 2011-2014. He coached 24 First Team All-America players, including 2007 Division II Rimington Award winner Ryan Pope, and he was named the Vince Lombardi Foundation Coach of the Year in 2015.
Named conference coach of the year 13 times during his career, he won at least a share of 17 conference titles (13 WVIAC and 4 MEC), giving him the most victories and coaching titles in West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) history. His teams went undefeated in conference play 11 times, and he coached 182 First Team All-Conference players.
Cater had only four losing seasons in his 31 years at Shepherd, and he posted winning records during each of his final 14 years with the Rams. He posted six undefeated regular seasons, including his last three from 2015-17, and his 245-93-1 (.724) record in 31 seasons at Shepherd makes him the winningest coach in school history.
Prior to coming to Shepherd, Cater was the primary architect in reviving the Lakeland College program in Plymouth, Wisconsin. He led the Muskies to a 30-24-1 record in six seasons, winning three conference titles in his last four seasons while garnering Coach of the Year honors twice.
Cater began his collegiate coaching career as an offensive line coach at his alma mater, Millikin University (IL), where he would also serve as co-offensive coordinator. During his coaching stint at Millikin, the Big Blue posted a record of 28-8.
Cater has been inducted into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2020), Shepherd Hall of Fame (2007), and the Millikin Athletics Hall of Fame (1999). He served as Shepherd's athletics director from 1993-2004, and he served as a member of the NCAA Division II Football Committee and the AFCA Board of Coaches. In addition to graduating with a degree in physical education from Millikin in 1971, Cater earned his Master's in physical education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
"We are extremely proud to announce the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi. "Each of these men has established himself among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to immortalizing their incredible accomplishments."
The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2023, at the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas.
The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, and each inductee will receive a custom ring created by Jostens, the official and exclusive supplier of NFF rings.
The announcement of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class was made today during "Championship Drive Presented by Mercedes-Benz" leading up to tonight's College Football Playoff National Championship.
"We want to thank ESPN for the opportunity to announce the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class during today's lead-up to the College Football Playoff National Championship," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Today's announcement shines a light on the accomplishments of some of college football's greatest legends."
2023 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
PLAYERS
- Eric Berry – DB, Tennessee (2007-09)
- Michael Bishop – QB, Kansas State (1997-98)
- Reggie Bush – RB, Southern California (2003-05)
- Dwight Freeney – DE, Syracuse (1998-2001)
- Robert Gallery – OT, Iowa (2000-03)
- LaMichael James – RB, Oregon (2009-11)
- Derrick Johnson – LB, Texas (2001-04)
- Bill Kollar – DT, Montana State (1971-73)
- Luke Kuechly – LB, Boston College (2009-11)
- Jeremy Maclin – WR/KR, Missouri (2007-08)
- Terance Mathis – WR, New Mexico (1985-87, 1989)
- Bryant McKinnie – OT, Miami [FL] (2000-01)
- Corey Moore – DL, Virginia Tech (1997-99)
- Michael Stonebreaker – LB, Notre Dame (1986, 1988, 1990)
- Tim Tebow – QB, Florida (2006-09)
- Troy Vincent – DB, Wisconsin (1988-91)
- Brian Westbrook – RB, Villanova (1997-98, 2000-01)
- DeAngelo Williams – RB, Memphis (2002-05)
COACHES
- Monte Cater – 275-117-2 (70.1%); Lakeland [WI] (1981-86), Shepherd [WV] (1987-2017)
- Paul Johnson – 189-99-0 (65.6%); Georgia Southern (1997-2001), Navy (2002-07), Georgia Tech (2008-18)
- Roy Kramer – 83-32-2 (71.8%); Central Michigan (1967-77)
- Mark Richt – 171-64-0 (72.8%); Georgia (2001-15), Miami [FL] (2016-18)
