| Merle Masonholder | |
| Birth Date: | 16 December 1943 |
| Birth Place: | Davenport, Iowa, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Fayette, Missouri, U.S. |
| Player Sport1: | Football |
| Player Years2: | 1962–1965 |
| Player Team2: | State College of Iowa |
| Player Positions: | Tackle |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1966–1968 |
| Coach Team2: | Iowa Valley HS (IA) |
| Coach Years3: | 1971–1977 |
| Coach Team3: | Cornell (IA) (assistant) |
| Coach Years4: | 1978–1979 |
| Coach Team4: | Morningside (DC) |
| Coach Years5: | 1980–1981 |
| Coach Team5: | Carroll (WI) (assistant) |
| Coach Years6: | 1982–2000 |
| Coach Team6: | Carroll (WI) |
| Coach Years7: | 2001–2007 |
| Coach Team7: | Central Methodist |
| Coach Sport8: | Wrestling |
| Coach Years9: | 1966–1969 |
| Coach Team9: | Iowa Valley HS (IA) |
| Coach Years10: | 1969–1971 |
| Coach Team10: | Coe |
| Coach Years11: | 1971–1977 |
| Coach Team11: | Cornell (IA) |
| Overall Record: | 108–142 (college football) |
| Championships: | Football 1 CCIW (1988) 4 MWC North Division (1992–1993, 1995, 1997) |
| Awards: | Football CCIW Coach of the Year (1988) |
Ross Merle Masonholder (December 16, 1943 – March 26, 2018) was an American football and wrestling coach.[1] He served as the head football coach at Carroll College—now known as Carroll University—in Waukesha, Wisconsin from 1982 to 2000 and Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri from 2001 to 2007, compiling a career college football coaching record of 108–142. Masonholder was also the head wrestling coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1969 to 1971 and Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa from 1971 to 1977.
Masonholder played college football at the State College of Iowa—now known as the University of Northern Iowa—where he was a two-time first team "All-Conference" tackle and received honorable mention as an All-American athlete.[2]
Masonholder began his coaching career in 1966 at Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, Iowa, where he was head football and head wrestling coach for three years. In 1969, he was hired as head wrestling coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[3] In 1971, Masonholder moved on to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa as head wrestling coach.[4]
Masonholder was the 26th head football coach at Carroll College—now known as Carroll University—in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving for 19 seasons, from 1982 to 2000. His coaching record at Carroll was 88–87.
Masonholder became the head football coach at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri in 2001, serving until the conclusion of the 2007 season.[5] While at CMU, he oversaw many positive changes in the football program and athletic department.[6]