Hall of Fame
Rob Hicklin became Missouri Western’s Head Football coach in `1974 after serving as the defensive coordinator at William Penn College. He went on to lead the Griffon football program for 12 seasons.
In just his second season, Coach Hicklin’s squad posted an 8-3-1 record. His teams made three bowl appearances and came away with three bowl victories. The Griffon’s made their first trip ever to a bowl game in 1975 where they defeated Graceland 44-0 in the Mineral Water Bowl. Western defeated Benedictine in the 1977 Boot Hill Bowl by a 35-30 margin, and in 1979 won the inaugural Moila Shrine Classic with a 72-44 victory over William Jewell College.
Rob’s honors included being named the District 16 Coach-of-the Year in 1975, 1977, and 1981. Hicklin’s 1981 team posted its most successful season going 8-2 and a ranking of eleventh in the final NAIA national poll.
Eleven Missouri Western players received All-America honors during Rob’s tenure, including first team honorees Ken Redding in 1975, George Blakley in 1976, and Bill Stevens in 1980.
While at Missouri Western Hicklin was active in civic and community affairs, serving as a counselor at Missouri Boys State for 8 years and as the director of the St. Joseph Colt Baseball League.
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Rob and his wife, Maryln, have four children, Tracie, Shelly, Rob Jr., and Lee Ann. They presently reside in Gravois Mills, Missouri.
