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BETHANY -- Don Ault, a former Former Bethany College and Eastern Intercollegiate Football Officials Association Coach of the Year, has died.
"Coach Ault is one of a few coaching legends that have walked on this campus. His passion and leadership on the football field not only made him a great coach but a great mentor of so many young men," said Steve Thompson, Bethany's athletic director, while remembering Ault, who died Friday. "His video message during the 125th anniversary was the example. The pure joy in his face knowing his team was reconnecting over the weekend was priceless."
In 1970, Ault joined the staff of another Bison great, coach Bob Goin, as an assistant. He was named Goin's replacement in 1973.
During Ault's tenure, Bethany won the Presidents' Athletic Conference championship twice and was conference runner-up three other times. His 1980 squad finished the regular season undefeated and untied, becoming the first Bethany team to advance to the NCAA III playoffs. For his efforts, he was selected as coach of the year by the Eastern Intercollegiate Football Officials Association.
"Coach Ault is beloved for his influence on former players, both on the field and throughout their lives," said college President Tamara Nichols Rodenberg. "Words cannot fully express my appreciation for his dedication to Bethany College over the years."
Ault took part in the program's 125th anniversary in November 2019 with a recorded message to his former student-athletes. His words sum up his experience and love for Bethany.
"That was a fun time, I coached all my life but nothing was more exciting than Bethany," he said.
"He closed with a smile saying he had a great time at Bethany, but I would say we were the lucky ones. Bethany had a great time when he was our football coach," Thompson added.
Ault was a standout player and team captain for the West Liberty Hilltoppers in 1949 and 1950, finishing both years unbeaten and compiling a record of 18-0-1.
After graduation from West Liberty, Ault entered the coaching world and became an Ohio Valley legend. In 1966, he was selected as the Ohio High School Coach of the Year. His Bellaire High School squad enjoyed an undefeated season.
He then continued his career at the collegiate level serving as an assistant football coach for Marshall University and Bethany College.
Ault then became the head football coach at Slippery Rock State University, where he revived a dormant program by winning seven games in his first seasons. He was named coach of the year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
He was inducted into the West Liberty Hall of Fame in 1996 and in Bethany College Hall of Fame in 1997.