He served as the head football coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas from 1936 to 1942 and Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas from 1946 to 1968, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 104–55–10.
In 1964, he was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame[1] and served as the third president of the organization.
[2] In January 1936, Godlove was named the 14th head football coach at the Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas[3] and he held that position for seven seasons, from 1936 to 1942, compiling a record of 37–13–6.
[5] After Ottawa,[6] Godlove was named the 25th head football coach at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, serving for 13 seasons, from 1946 to 1958, and compiling a record of 67–42–4.
[7][8][9] During his first year at Washburn, Godlove, alongside Fran Welch of Kansas State Teachers, coached an "all-star" team made up of Kansas players that played a similar squad from Missouri[10] in the "Mo-Kan Bowl" all-star exhibition game.