Knox College Athletics

Evelyn Bielefeldt was a physical education teacher and coach at Knox from 1932 to 1969.  Throughout her career at Knox, physical education was a requirement for achieving an undergraduate degree and during the vast majority of her time here she was the only female instructor in that department.  For scores of students, faculty and staff she was affectionately called Miss B.

Evelyn received her BA from Pomona College and did graduate work at Claremont, Wellesley and the University of Wisconsin.  She was a member of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and was actively involved with the National Association of Directors of Physical Education for Women.  She was a member of Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in Illinois.

A former student from the 1940's penned these comments about her shortly before her retirement:
"Miss B was truly one of Knox's treasures.  My first job at Knox was working for the National Youth Administration, helping to teach physical education to Miss B's girls.  I had the opportunity to observe her careful and precise methods of teaching.  She did everything with perfection, care and a high degree of organization.  Her involvement in national, state and local organizations did much to positively place Knox among the finest schools in the country."
 
In 1976 an award honoring Miss B was created at Knox.  The Evelyn Bielefeldt Award, established by the Knox College Chapter of Mortar Board, is given each year to the most outstanding senior woman athlete.

The crowning achievement of Miss B's coaching career took place in the late 1950's.  In 1956, 57, and 58 her archery teams won the NCAA National Championship.  These three teams are the only teams that have ever won national titles in the history of the College's organized athletic competition.  To have won three consecutive championships was even more remarkable.