Valparaiso Beacons football

For information on all Valparaiso Beacons sports, see Valparaiso Beacons.
Valparaiso Beacons football
2024 Valparaiso Beacons football team
First season1919; 105 years ago (1919)
Athletic directorLaurel Hosmer
Head coachVacant
1st season, 0–0 (–)
StadiumBrown Field
(capacity: 5,000)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationValparaiso, Indiana
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferencePioneer Football League
All-time record395–522–26 (.433)
Bowl record0–1 (.000)
Conference titles9
Division titles1
ColorsBrown and gold[1]
   
MascotBeacons
WebsiteValpoAthletics.com

The Valparaiso Beacons football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Valparaiso University located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). Valparaiso's first football team was fielded in 1919. The team plays its home games at the 5,000-seat Brown Field in Valparaiso, Indiana. Landon Fox has served as the team's head coach since 2019. Valparaiso was known as the Crusaders through the 2019 season.

History

Classifications

  • 1941–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–1978: NCAA Division III
  • 1979–1992: NCAA Division II
  • 1993–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

Year-by-year results

Head coach George Keogan:
1919 5-3
1920 5-3
Head coach Earl Goheen:
1921 2-2-1
1922 3-2-2
Head coach William Shadoan:
1923 5-2-1
1924 4-3-2
Head coach Millard Anderson:
1925 1-6
Head coach Conrad Moll:
1926 1-4-1
Head coach Earl Scott:
1927 1-5
1928 1-6
Head coach J.M. Christianson:
1929 1-7
1930 5-4
1931 8-1
1932 7-0
1933 7-1
1934 6-2
1935 4-4-1
1936 1-6-1
1937 4-4
1938 2-4-1
1939 2-6
1940 3-3-1
Head coach Victor Dauer:
1941 0-7-1
Head coach Loren Ellis:
1942 4-4
1943 No Football due to WWII
1944 No Football due to WWII
1945 6-1
Head coach Emery Bauer:
1946 1-7
1947 2-5-1
1948 4-5
1949 7-2-1
1950 9-1
1951 9-0
1952 5-3-1
1953 5-2-1
1954 6-2-1
1955 6-3
1956 6-4
(Walt Reiner joins as a Co-Head Coach):
1957 4-2-2
1958 6-3
1959 5-4
1960 3-6
1961 7-2
1962 6-3
1963 3-6
1964 6-3
(Walt Reiner leaves program as Emery Bauer returns full responsibilities):
1965 3-6
1966 3-6
1967 3-6
Head coach Norm Amundsen:
1968 4-5
1969 7-2
1970 5-3-2
1971 8-2
1972 6-4
1973 6-5
1974 3-6
1975 3-6
1976 2-7-1
Head coach Bill Koch:
1977 3-6-1
1978 5-4
1979 5-4
1980 4-5-1
1981 1-9
1982 3-7
1983 4-6
1984 6-4
1985 6-4
1986 3-7
1987 3-6
1988 0-9-1
Head coach Tom Horne:
1989 0-10
1990 1-9
1991 1-8-1
1992 3-8
1993 5-5
1994 7-3
1995 5-5
1996 4-6
1997 3-8
1998 5-6
1999 9-2
2000 7-4
2001 3-8
2002 1-10
2003 8-4
2004 5-6
Head coach Stacey Adams:
2005 3-8
2006 3-8
2007 5-6
2008 3-8
2009 1-10
Head coach Dale Carlson:
2010 0-11
2011 1-10
2012 1-10
2013 1-10
Head coach Dave Cecchini:
2014 4-8
2015 1-9
2016 4-7
2017 6-5
2018 2-9
Head coach Landon Fox:
2019 1-11
2020 4-2
2021 4-7
2022 5-7
2023 3-8
2024 4-7

Bowl game appearances

Season Date Bowl W/L Opponent PF PA Coach Notes
1950 January 1, 1951 Cigar Bowl L La Crosse State 14 47 Emery Bauer notes
Total 1 bowl game 0–1 14 47

Championships

Conference championships

Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1945 Indiana Intercollegiate Conference Loren Ellis 6–1 4–0
1951 Emory Bauer 9–0 4–0
1952† 5–3–1 3–1–1
1954 6–2–1 5–1
1964† 6–3 4–2
1968 Norm Amundsen 4–5 4–0
1969† 7–2 3–1
2000† Pioneer Football League Tom Horne 7–4 3–1
2003 8–4 3–1
Total conference championships 9

† Co-champions

Divisional championships

From 2001 to 2005, the Pioneer Football League (PFL) was divided into North and South Divisions. As winners of the PFL's North Division, Valparaiso has made one appearance in the Pioneer Football League Championship Game, in 2003. Valparaiso shared the Division title with San Diego in 2003, but the tie-breaker allowed the Crusaders to represent the division in the championship game.

Year Division championship Opponent CG result
2003† PFL North Morehead State W 54–42

† Co-champions

References

  1. ^ "Valpo University Color Palettes". July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.