Rock Valley College will induct two standout athletes and two of the institution's best coaches into its Athletic Hall of Fame in December.
The 2023 class includes:
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Darin Monroe
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Morgan Adolph
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Tierra McGowan
The incoming class increases membership in Rock Valley's athletic Hall of Fame to 62.
Monroe is the athletic department's most renowned of all coaches, collecting eight-straight national championships, an unprecedented amount for any coach in any sport at any level.
In 12 seasons, at RVC Monroe has 531 victories to go along with .831 winning percentage which includes eight consecutive N4C Conference championships. Monroe has coached and mentored 33 NFCA All-Americans, 58 All-Region IV honors, 54 All-N4C including 7 N4C MVP's during his run. Monroe teams have also performed off the field as well with having 77 NFCA Academic All-Americans. Monroe has had teams recognized by both the NFCA and NJCAA for their academic Achievements. Monroe and his staff have been awarded the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014-2019 and 2021 and Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year in 2023. Monroe has been awarded the N4C Coach of the Year in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021, and Region IV Coach of the Year in 2013-2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. He has won the National Championship Coach of the Tournament from 2014-2019,2021, and 2022. Monroe was inducted into the NJCAA Softball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2023, Region 4 Hall of Fame in 2023 and RVC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
Monroe has been the RVC's Athletic Director since 2018 and has overseen 3 national championships in Men's and Women's bowling to go along with 3 national championships in softball. Monroe also serves on the NJCAA Board of Regents as a Region 4 Representative and has been a member of the NJCAA D2 Volleyball, D3 Women's Basketball and D3 Softball National Committees. As an Athletic Director, Monroe was named the 2023 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year.
In two seasons, Morgan Adolph is one of the most dominant pitchers to step inside the circle for the Golden Eagles. Adolph was the NJCAA's first two-time National Pitcher of the Year, receiving the award in both 2015 and 2016. Adolph was a two-time NJCAA Division III All-American, two-time NFCA Division III All-American, and two-time NJCAA Division III National Tournament All-Tournament Team selection. Her 2015 freshman season was gem, named 2015 NJCAA Division III National Tournament MVP and NJCAA Division III National Tournament Pitcher of the Tournament. In two years, Adolph was a five-time national pitcher of the week recipient and a two-time NJCAA Division III National Champion.
Adolph can be found throughout the RVC record book. Her 25 wins in a season puts her fourth all-time with 206 strikeouts, fifth-best for a season, and had a microscopic ERA of 1.58 (fifth all time) and 177 innings pitched (fourth all time) in 2016. For her career, Adoplh amassed 50 wins and 364 strikeouts. In 323 1/3 innings, Adolph only allowed 77 runs over her dominant two year run.
Tierra McGowan in her two seasons at Rock Valley College played in 66 games making 62 starts. McGowan totaled 42 assist, 74 steals, 149 blocks, 828 rebounds and 1,022 points in her career at RVC.
McGowan helped orchestrate the Golden Eagles to a national championship and a 33-2 overall record during her sophomore season in 2016-17. At the national tournament in Utica (NY), the Chicago native averaged 21 points per game and 15 rebounds on the 2016-17 season. In the national title game versus defending champion Roxbury (MA), she posted her third 20-20 contest of the season, tallying 20 points and 20 rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors. The 6'4" center finished the season scoring in double-figures in 28 straight games, leveling her season average at 20.7 points per outing. McGowan surpassed 20 points in 20 contests and recorded a double-double in points and rebounds in 28 games. On the glass, McGowan averaged 14.1 rebounds and surpassed 20 rebounds six times in a contest. McGowan was also inducted into the Region IV Hall of Fame this past year as well.
McGowan would go on to play at Morehead State after Rock Valley, appearing in 50 games starting 44 of them. McGowan in her two years would score 442 points and grab 501 rebounds as an Eagle.
In three seasons, Abby (Sackmaster) Jenkins lead the RVC volleyball team to two NJCAA Division III third-place finishes, including a 40-8 season to go along with a NJCAA Division 3 national championship in 2012. Jenkins would go on to win N4C Conference and Region IV coach of the year honors in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and 2012 NJCAA National Tournament Coach of the Year. Over four years Jenkins would earn 146 victories to pair with a .768 winning percentage.
Jenkins is currently a teacher at Rockford East High School.
All four individuals will be celebrated at an induction banquet to be held at Prairie Street Brewing Company on Friday, December 1 beginning at 5:30 PM. Reservations are required to attend. To purchase tickets, Click Here.
