The Missouri Southern Lions college football team competes as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, and represents Missouri Southern State University in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The Lions play their home games at Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Missouri since 1975.[1] Since their inaugural season, Missouri Southern has appeared in one NAIA Division II National Championship Game, and one NCAA Division II playoffs.[2][3]
For the 1968–75 seasons, Missouri Southern competed as a NAIA independent, unaffiliated with a conference. They would later join the Central States intercollegiate conference. In 1989 the Lions joined the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association, later renamed the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and the NCAA Division II ranks.[4]
Seasons
National Champions †
|
Conference Champions *
|
Shared standing T
|
Season
|
Head coach
|
Conference
|
Season results
|
Postseason
|
Final ranking
|
Overall
|
Conference
|
Post Season Result
|
AFCA Poll
|
D2fb.com Poll
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
Ties
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
Ties
|
Conference finish
|
Division finish
|
Missouri Southern Lions
|
1968
|
Jim Johnson
|
Independent
|
2
|
8
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1969
|
Reuben Berry
|
Independent
|
2
|
8
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1970
|
Reuben Berry
|
Independent
|
2
|
7
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1971
|
Jim Frazier
|
Independent
|
4
|
6
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1972 †
|
Jim Frazier
|
Independent
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Won NAIA Division II Championship against Northwestern (IA), 21–14
|
—
|
—
|
1973
|
Jim Frazier
|
Independent
|
4
|
6
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1974
|
Jim Frazier
|
Independent
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1975
|
Jim Frazier
|
Independent
|
7
|
3
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1976 *
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
8
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
T–1st
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1977
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
T–5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1978
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
T–2nd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1979
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
T–3rd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1980
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
T–3rd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1981
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
T–2nd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1982
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
7
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
3rd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1983
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
9
|
2
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
2nd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1984
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
T–2nd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1985
|
Jim Frazier
|
CSIC
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
T–3rd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1986
|
Rod Giesselmann
|
CSIC
|
2
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
T–5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1987
|
Rod Giesselmann
|
CSIC
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1988
|
Bill Cooke
|
CSIC
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
T–6th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1989
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
4th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1990
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
4
|
5
|
0
|
4
|
5
|
0
|
T–5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1991
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
8
|
3
|
0
|
7
|
2
|
0
|
2nd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1992
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
4
|
6
|
0
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
7th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1993 *
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
1st
|
—
|
Lost NCAA First Round to Mankato State, 34–13
|
—
|
—
|
1994
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
0
|
5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1995
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
0
|
5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1996
|
Jon Lantz
|
MIAA
|
6
|
4
|
—
|
5
|
4
|
—
|
T–4th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1997
|
Jon Lantz/Rob Green
|
MIAA
|
7
|
3
|
—
|
6
|
3
|
—
|
T–3rd
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1998
|
Greg Gregory
|
MIAA
|
3
|
7
|
—
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
T–6th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
1999
|
Greg Gregory
|
MIAA
|
5
|
6
|
—
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
6th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2000
|
Bill Cooke
|
MIAA
|
2
|
9
|
—
|
2
|
7
|
—
|
8th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2001
|
Bill Cooke
|
MIAA
|
4
|
6
|
—
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
7th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2002
|
Bill Cooke
|
MIAA
|
5
|
6
|
—
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
7th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2003
|
Bill Cooke/Rob Green
|
MIAA
|
1
|
10
|
—
|
1
|
8
|
—
|
9th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2004
|
John Ware
|
MIAA
|
5
|
6
|
—
|
4
|
5
|
—
|
T–5th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2005
|
John Ware/Keeth Matheny
|
MIAA
|
3
|
7
|
—
|
2
|
6
|
—
|
7th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2006
|
Bart Tatum
|
MIAA
|
5
|
6
|
—
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
6th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2007
|
Bart Tatum
|
MIAA
|
6
|
5
|
—
|
5
|
4
|
—
|
T–4th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2008
|
Bart Tatum
|
MIAA
|
4
|
7
|
—
|
2
|
7
|
—
|
8th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2009
|
Bart Tatum
|
MIAA
|
3
|
7
|
—
|
3
|
6
|
—
|
T–7th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2010
|
Bart Tatum
|
MIAA
|
4
|
7
|
—
|
2
|
7
|
—
|
T–8th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2011
|
Bart Tatum
|
MIAA
|
3
|
7
|
—
|
2
|
7
|
—
|
T–8th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2012
|
Daryl Daye
|
MIAA
|
6
|
5
|
—
|
5
|
5
|
—
|
T–8th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2013
|
Daryl Daye
|
MIAA
|
7
|
3
|
—
|
5
|
3
|
—
|
6th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2014
|
Daryl Daye
|
MIAA
|
4
|
7
|
—
|
4
|
7
|
—
|
T–7th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2015
|
Denver Johnson
|
MIAA
|
1
|
10
|
—
|
1
|
10
|
—
|
11th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2016
|
Denver Johnson
|
MIAA
|
2
|
9
|
—
|
2
|
9
|
—
|
T–10th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2017
|
Denver Johnson
|
MIAA
|
0
|
11
|
—
|
0
|
11
|
—
|
12th
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Total
|
301
|
258
|
7
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(only includes regular season games)
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(only includes playoff and bowl games; 2 appearances)
|
|
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(all games)
|
References
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
National championship seasons in bold |