Azusa Pacific Cougars football

Last updated

Azusa Pacific Cougars football
Azusa Pacific Cougars logo.svg
First season1965;61 years ago (1965)
Head coach A.J. Parnell
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium Citrus Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)
Location Azusa, California, U.S.
NCAA division Division II
Conference Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (from 2026)
Claimed national championships
2 (1 NAIA, 1 NCCAA)
Conference championships
4 (GNAC)
ColorsBrick and black [1]
   
Website athletics.apu.edu

The Azusa Pacific Cougars football program is a dormant college football team that represents Azusa Pacific University. From 2012 to 2020, the team was a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference of NCAA Division II. Prior to the 2012 season, the Cougars had been an independent program in the NAIA. [2] The Cougars had 10 head coaches since their first recorded football game in 1965. [3] The most famous player to play for the Cougars is Christian Okoye.

Contents

Azusa Pacific University decided to end its football program in December 2020 due to financial restructuring. [4] The team was revived in March 2025 with plans of playing in NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference starting in 2026. [5]

History

Conferences

Championships

National championships

YearAssociationDivisionHead coachRecordOpponentResult
1998 NAIA (1) Division I (1) Vic Shealy 12–2 Olivet Nazarene W, 17–14

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II

The Cougars appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 0–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2016 First Round Sioux Falls L, 21–34
2018 First Round Tarleton State L, 0–58

NAIA

The Cougars appeared in the NAIA playoffs eight times, with an overall record of 7–9.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1998 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship		 Taylor
Central Washington
Huron
Olivet Nazarene 		W, 31–28
W, 35–28
W, 26–24
W, 17–14
1999 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Doane
Hastings
Georgetown (KY) 		W, 31–12
W, 38–35
L, 35–66
2000 First Round MidAmerica Nazarene L, 21–27
2003 First Round Mary (ND) L, 2–20
2004 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 NW Oklahoma State
Sioux Falls
Carroll (MT) 		W, 16–0
W, 24–3
L, 10–14
2005 First Round Montana Tech L, 17–24
2010 First RoundCarroll (MT)L, 21–35
2011 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Ottawa (KS)
Carroll (MT)		W, 49–26
L, 14–17

Head coaches

NameTerm
Tom Nelson 1965
Dave Drake 1966
John Crandall 1967–1969
Bob Damewood 1970–1971
Jerry Sconce 1972–1977
Jim Milhon 1978–1994
Vic Shealy 1995–1998
Pete Shinnick 1999–2005
Victor Santa Cruz 2006–2019
Rudy Carlton 2020
AJ Parnell 2026

References

  1. ↑ Azusa Pacific University Graphics Standards Guide (PDF). Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  2. ↑ Aird, Donovan (June 5, 2008). "How the West was undone". Mustang Daily. p. 14. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Football-Azusa Pacific Year-by-Year" (PDF). Football Media Guide. Azusa Pacific University Athletics. May 22, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Football Draws to a Close at Azusa Pacific".
  5. ↑ "APU Announces Return of Football, Transition to NCAA Division III" (Press release). Azusa Pacific University. March 17, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.


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