# Merle Masonholder

Ross Merle Masonholder (December 16, 1943 – March 26, 2018) was an American football and wrestling coach. He served as the head football coach at Carroll College—now known as Carroll University—in Waukesha, Wisconsin from 1982 to 2000 and Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri from 2001 to 2007, compiling a career college football coaching record of 108–142. Masonholder was also the head wrestling coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1969 to 1971 and Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa from 1971 to 1977.

## Playing career

Masonholder played college football at the State College of Iowa—now known as the University of Northern Iowa—where he was a two-time first team "All-Conference" tackle and received honorable mention as an All-American athlete.

## Coaching career
### Early coaching career

Masonholder began his coaching career in 1966 at Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, Iowa, where he was head football and head wrestling coach for three years. In 1969, he was hired as head wrestling coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1971, Masonholder moved on to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa as head wrestling coach.

### Carroll

Masonholder was the 26th head football coach at Carroll College—now known as Carroll University—in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving for 19 seasons, from 1982 to 2000. His coaching record at Carroll was 88–87.

### Central Methodist

Masonholder became the head football coach at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri in 2001, serving until the conclusion of the 2007 season. While at CMU, he oversaw many positive changes in the football program and athletic department.

## Head coaching record
### College football

| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Carroll Pioneers (College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) (1982–1991) ||||||
| 1982 | Carroll | 0–9 | 0–8 | 9th |
| 1983 | Carroll | 0–8 | 0–8 | 9th |
| 1984 | Carroll | 2–7 | 2–6 | T–6th |
| 1985 | Carroll | 3–6 | 2–6 | T–6th |
| 1986 | Carroll | 2–7 | 2–6 | 8th |
| 1987 | Carroll | 5–4 | 5–3 | T–3rd |
| 1988 | Carroll | 7–2 | 7–1 | T–1st |
| 1989 | Carroll | 6–3 | 6–2 | 3rd |
| 1990 | Carroll | 6–3 | 5–3 | 4th |
| 1991 | Carroll | 5–4 | 4–4 | 5th |
| Carroll Pioneers (Midwest Conference) (1992–2000) ||||||
| 1992 | Carroll | 8–1 | 4–1 | T–1st (North) |
| 1993 | Carroll | 7–3 | 4–1 | 1st (North) |
| 1994 | Carroll | 6–3 | 3–2 | 3rd (North) |
| 1995 | Carroll | 6–3 | 4–1 | T–1st (North) |
| 1996 | Carroll | 6–3 | 3–2 | 3rd (North) |
| 1997 | Carroll | 5–5 | 4–1 | T–1st (North) |
| 1998 | Carroll | 4–6 | 3–6 | 7th |
| 1999 | Carroll | 5–5 | 4–5 | 5th |
| 2000 | Carroll | 5–5 | 5–4 | T–3rd |
| Carroll: | Carroll: | 88–87 | 67–70 | |
| Central Methodist Eagles (Heart of America Athletic Conference) (2001–2007) ||||||
| 2001 | Central Methodist | 1–10 | 0–10 | 11th |
| 2002 | Central Methodist | 5–6 | 4–6 | T–6th |
| 2003 | Central Methodist | 2–8 | 2–8 | T–10th |
| 2004 | Central Methodist | 4–7 | 3–7 | 9th |
| 2005 | Central Methodist | 3–8 | 3–7 | T–8th |
| 2006 | Central Methodist | 3–8 | 2–8 | T–10th |
| 2007 | Central Methodist | 2–8 | 2–8 | 9th |
| Central Methodist: | Central Methodist: | 20–55 | 16–54 | |
| Total: | Total: | 108–142 | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||