Valparaiso Beacons football

Valparaiso Beacons football
Valparaiso Beacons football
	2024 Valparaiso Beacons football team
First season	1919; 105 years ago
Athletic director	Laurel Hosmer
Head coach	Andy Waddle ; 1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium	Brown Field; (capacity: 5,000)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Valparaiso, Indiana
NCAA division	Division I FCS
Conference	Pioneer Football League
All-time record	395–522–26 (.433)
Bowl record	0–1 (.000)
Conference titles	9
Division titles	1
Colors	Brown and gold;
Mascot	Beacons
Website	ValpoAthletics.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. Andy Waddle has served as the team's head coach since 2025. 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

1919–1923: Independent
1924–1925: Western Interstate Conference
1926–1933: Independent
1934–1947: Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
1948–1950: Independent
1951–1977: Indiana Collegiate Conference
1978–1989: Heartland Collegiate Conference
1990–1992: Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference
1993–present: Pioneer Football League

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†		Norm Amundsen	7–2	3–1
2000†	Pioneer Football League	Tom Horne	7–4	3–1
2003	Pioneer Football League	Tom Horne	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

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

External links

Official website

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

[1]