| Year: | 2023 |
| Team: | Central Missouri Mules |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Short Conf: | MIAA |
| Afcarank: | 6 |
| Record: | 11–2 |
| Conf Record: | 9–1 |
| Head Coach: | Josh Lamberson |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Cooff Coach1: | Justin Bane |
| Cooc1 Year: | 1st |
| Cooff Coach2: | Joe Holtzclaw |
| Cooc2 Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Greg Jones |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Keiser Multi-Purpose Field |
| Champion: | MIAA co-champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division II Second Round |
| Bowl Result: | L 34–35 vs. Harding |
The 2023 Central Missouri Mules football represented the University of Central Missouri as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 2nd-year head coach Josh Lamberson, the Mules compiled an overall record of 11–2 with a mark of 9–1 in conference play; sharing the MIAA championship.
Central Missouri beat in the first round before losing to the eventual champions, Harding, in the second round. Central Missouri played home games at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg, Missouri.
Quarterback transfer Zach Zebrowski from Southern Illinois was named the Harlon Hill Trophy winner following the season.[1]
| Central Missouri Mules | |||||
| Name | Position | Consecutive season at Central Missouri in current position | Previous position | UCM profile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Lamberson | Head coach | 2nd | Abilene Christian assistant head coach and offensive coordinator (2017–2021) | [3] | |
| Hayden Hawk | Assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach | 1st | Henderson State offensive coordinator (2018–2022) | [4] | |
| Justin Bane | Co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach | 1st | N/A | [5] | |
| Greg Jones | Defensive coordinator and safeties coach | 1st | Oregon defensive analyst (2022) | [6] | |
| Stephen Franklin | Special teams coordinator and linebackers coach | 1st | Bethel (MN) inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator (2021–2022) | [7] | |
| Joe Holtzclaw | Co-offensive coordinator, run game coordinator, and offensive line coach | 1st | Central Missouri offensive line coach (2022) | [8] | |
| Dana Chambers | Defensive line coach | 7th | Kalamazoo Central HS (MI) head coach (2009–2016) | [9] | |
| Adrian Duncan | Running backs coach | N/A | N/A | [10] | |
| Brian Smith II | Cornerbacks coach | N/A | N/A | [11] | |
| Chace Gadapee | Tight ends coach | N/A | N/A | [12] | |
| Terrance Dennis | Assistant special teams coordinator, kickers coach, punters coach, and long snappers coach | N/A | N/A | [13] | |
| Reference:[14] | |||||