Legendary Muskingum Football Coach, Athletic Director, and Faculty Member Ed Sherman '36 (1912-2009) was a founding father of NCAA Division III. 

Sherman was the head coach at Muskingum from 1945 until 1966. During his 22-year tenure, the Fighting Muskies compiled a 141-43-7 record that made him one of the most successful coaches in the history of college football. In addition to winning 141 games, Sherman's teams claimed six Ohio Athletic Conference championships and recorded undefeated seasons in 1955, '60 and '66. Muskingum was the Mideast College Division runner-up in 1964 and '66. In 1955 and 1965, he was named Ohio College Coach of the Year. In 1986, the University honored Sherman by naming the field at McConagha Stadium in his honor.

As a key figure in NCAA governance from 1967-1979, Coach Sherman chaired the committee that created the nationwide athletics divisional structure. He also served as NCAA secretary-treasurer and in leadership roles on multiple NCAA committees, including the NCAA Television Committee and the NCAA-NAIA Joint Committee. Among his many honors, Coach Sherman received a White House Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Athletics and was the first Division III coach inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame. He entered as a member of the inaugural class of inductees from Divisions I-AA, II, III, and NAIA schools.

Sherman has been enshrined in the Newark High School, Muskingum University, and National Association of Athletic Directors Halls of Fame.