Bob Mudd was born in Ames, Iowa to Barbara and the late Robert Mudd. He was raised in Ames and graduated from Ames High School, where he competed in cross country and track. He continued his education at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He ran cross country and track in college. Upon his graduation from Wartburg in 1975, Bob took his first and only teaching job at North Linn High School.
In 1976, He started the cross country program. During his tenure at North Linn, the cross country program has become one of the premier programs in the state. Bob has won one state title and had seven runner-up finishes. His teams have finished in the top ten 23 times and in the top four 15 times. Bob has coached four individual state champions in cross country and twenty-three all state performers. His girls’ team currently has qualified for the state cross country meet the last seventeen years in a row. Bob was the head boys’ track coach for 25 years and the last five years he has served as an assistant girls’ track coach. During his tenure, he coached seven teams to top five finishes with the girls’ winning one state championship and being the runner-up one time. He has coached 15 state champions in individual and relay events. Bob has coached two Drake Relay Champions and two athletes, which held State Meet records. Bob and his wife Terri have four children; Rob, Brian, Jodi, and Jenni.