# Jim Hershberger

James Monroe Hershberger (May 13, 1934 – January 25, 2002) was an American athletic director and college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1970 to 1982 and from 1984 to 1989.

## Early life and playing career

Hershberger was born on May 13, 1934, in Kalona, Iowa, to Edward and Edna Hershberger. He attended Kalona High School. He lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. He played college football for Iowa State Teachers—now known as Northern Iowa—as a back, end, and tackle.

## Coaching career

Following Hershberger's college graduation, he was named head football coach for Janesville High School—now known as Joseph A. Craig High School. In two seasons as head coach, he led the team to a 12–3–1 record. In 1959, he was hired to be the head football coach for Algona High School. In seven seasons as head coach, he led the team to a 25–19–5 record including a conference title and a 7–0–1 record in 1961. He joined Northeast Missouri State—now known as Truman—as a graduate assistant while he worked on his master's degree. In 1967, Hershberger was named the offensive line coach for Illinois State. In 1969, he was promoted to offensive coordinator while maintaining his role as offensive line coach.
In 1970, Hershberger was named the head football coach for Buena Vista. After finishing his first season 1–8, he led the school to eleven consecutive winning seasons, which included three Iowa Conference titles, in 1972, 1973, and 1978. In 1975, Buena Vista finished with an overall record of 8–2 and won the Boot Hill Bowl. The following year the team finished 8–2–1 and reached the NCAA Division III Semifinal for the school's first-ever Division III playoff appearance. He retired from coaching following the 1989 season. In twenty seasons with Buena Vista he led them to an overall record of 118–61–1 and won Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors five times.
Following Hershberger's retirement from coaching, he was named athletic director for Buena Vista. He served in the role until his complete retirement in 1994.

## Personal life and honors

In 2001, Hershberger was inducted into the Buena Vista Hall of Fame.
On June 16, 1957, Hershberger married Floy Baumgartner. They had three sons together.

## Health and death

In 1983, during a game against Dubuque, Hershberger suffered a heart attack. He was treated at Mercy Hospital and was in critical condition. He died on January 25, 2002, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa from cancer and heart disease.

## Head coaching record
### College

| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | NAIA D2$^#$ | D3$^°$ |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1970–1982) ||||||||
| 1970 | Buena Vista | 1–8 | 1–6 | T–7th | | | |
| 1971 | Buena Vista | 6–2 | 5–2 | T–2nd | | | |
| 1972 | Buena Vista | 7–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | | T–14 | |
| 1973 | Buena Vista | 8–1 | 7–0 | 1st | | 9 | |
| 1974 | Buena Vista | 5–4 | 4–3 | T–3rd | | | |
| 1975 | Buena Vista | 8–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | W Boot Hill | 9 | |
| 1976 | Buena Vista | 8–2–1 | 5–1–1 | 2nd | L NCAA Division III Semifinal | | |
| 1977 | Buena Vista | 7–2 | 5–2 | 3rd | | | |
| 1978 | Buena Vista | 7–2 | 5–2 | T–1st | | | |
| 1979 | Buena Vista | 7–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | | | |
| 1980 | Buena Vista | 6–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | | | |
| 1981 | Buena Vista | 7–2 | 5–2 | 2nd | | | |
| 1982 | Buena Vista | 4–5 | 3–4 | 5th | | | |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1984–1989) ||||||||
| 1984 | Buena Vista | 7–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | | | |
| 1985 | Buena Vista | 4–6 | 2–5 | T–5th | | | |
| 1986 | Buena Vista | 9–2 | 7–1 | 2nd | L NCAA Division III First Round | | T–15 |
| 1987 | Buena Vista | 5–5 | 5–3 | 3rd | | | |
| 1988 | Buena Vista | 7–3 | 5–3 | 3rd | | | |
| 1989 | Buena Vista | 5–5 | 3–5 | T–6th | | | |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 118–61–1 | 90–46–1 | | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 118–61–1 | | | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||||

### High school

| Year | Team | Overall | Standing |
| Janesville Cougars (1957–1958) ||||||
| Janesville: | Janesville: | 12–3–1 | |
| Algona Bulldogs (1959–1965) ||||||
| 1959 | Algona | 2–4–2 | |
| 1960 | Algona | 5–3 | |
| 1961 | Algona | 7–0–1 | 1st |
| 1962 | Algona | 1–6–1 | |
| 1963 | Algona | 4–3–1 | |
| 1964 | Algona | 6–2 | |
| Algona: | Algona: | 25–19–5 | |
| Total: | Total: | 37–21–6 | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||