ROCK ISLAND — Ben Newcomb, former director of athletics and head football coach at Augustana College, passed away on June 8 surrounded by his loving family at Generations Rock Island.
Newcomb served as the director of athletics at Augustana from 1969-73 and head football coach for 10 seasons from 1969-78 as the Vikings transitioned to the newly formed NCAA Division III classification. Newcomb compiled a career record of 55-34-1 at Augustana and directed the Vikings to the CCIW title and first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1975.
In addition to the CCIW title in 1975, Augustana finished second outright in the final conference standings in 1969 and 1976 and shared a second-place finish in 1971 and 1973.
Newcomb later served Augustana as the director of the College Center from 1979-90.
A graduate of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Newcomb arrived in Rock Island after serving on the Eastern Illinois football staff from 1965-68 and was the head baseball coach for the Panthers during the 1966 season.
A visitation has been scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, June 27 at Rafferty Funeral Home in Moline followed by a memorial service at the venue. More details can be found here.
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