Valparaiso Beacons football explained

Currentseason:2024 Valparaiso Beacons football team
Teamname:Valparaiso Beacons football
Firstyear:1919
Athleticdirector:Laurel Hosmer (interim)
Headcoach:Landon Fox
Headcoachyear:4th
Hcwins:14
Hclosses:27
Stadium:Brown Field
Stadcapacity:5,000
Stadsurface:FieldTurf
Ncaadivision:I FCS
Conference:Pioneer Football League
Atwins:395
Atlosses:522
Atties:26
Bowlwins:0
Bowllosses:1
Conftitles:9
Divtitles:1
Mascotdisplay:Beacons
Websitename:ValpoAthletics.com
Websiteurl:http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/

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

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

Bowl game appearances

Season Date Bowl W/L Opponent PF PACoachNotes
1950 January 1, 1951 L La Crosse State14 47 Emery Bauer notes
Total 1 bowl game 0–1 14 47

Championships

Conference championships

YearConferenceCoachOverall RecordConference Record
1945 6–1 4–0
1951 9–0 4–0
1952† 5–3–1 3–1–1
1954 6–2–1 5–1
1964† 6–3 4–2
1968 4–5 4–0
1969† 7–2 3–1
2000† 7–4 3–1
2003 8–4 3–1
Total conference championships9
† 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 in 2003, but the tie-breaker allowed the Crusaders to represent the division in the championship game.

† Co-champion