Central Washington Wildcats football

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Central Washington Wildcats football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Central Washington Wildcats football team
Cwu athletics wordmark.png
First season1901;125 years ago (1901)
Athletic directorDr. Dennis Francois
Head coach Chris Fisk
6th season, 38–20 (.655)
StadiumTomlinson Stadium
(capacity: 4,000)
Location Ellensburg, Washington
Conference Lone Star Conference
All-time record489–338–26 (.589)
Claimed national championships
1 (1995)
Conference championships
32
Consensus All-Americans 31
ColorsCrimson and black [1]
   
Website wildcatsports.com/football

The Central Washington Wildcats program represents Central Washington University in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Wildcats are normally members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, but when that conference dropped football after the 2021 season, they joined the Lone Star Conference as football-only members. [2]

Contents

Conference affiliations

Championships

National championships

The Wildcats have one claimed national championship.

YearAssociationDivisionHead coachRecordOpponentResult
1995 NAIA (1) Division II (1) Jeff Zenisek 10–3–1 (4–1 CFA) Findlay T, 21–21

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II

The Wildcats have made nine appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 5–9.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2002 First Round UC Davis L, 6–24
2007 First Round
Second Round
Regional Final		 Ashland
Nebraska–Omaha
Grand Valley State 		W, 40–24
W, 20–17
L, 21–41
2008 First Round West Texas A&M L, 42–49
2009 Second Round
Regional Final		 Tarleton State
NW Missouri State 		W, 27–6
L, 20–21
2017 Second Round Texas A&M–Commerce L, 31–34 2OT
2021 First RoundNW Missouri StateL, 21–50
2023 First Round
Second Round
Regional Finals		 Western Colorado
Bemidji State
Colorado Mines 		W, 16–13 OT
W, 21–17
L, 14–38
2024 First Round Western Colorado L, 21–28
2025 First Round Western Colorado L, 20–27

NAIA

The Wildcats made nine appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 10–8–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1984 Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 East Central
Central Arkansas 		W, 22–20
L, 6–44
1987 First Round Southern Oregon L, 14–21
1988 First Round Carroll (MT) L, 7–28
1989 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Lewis & Clark
Dickinson State
Westminster (PA) 		W, 51–0
W, 49–7
L, 10–21
1990 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Greenville
Pacific Lutheran
Westminster (PA)		W, 43–13
W, 24–6
L, 17–24
1991 First RoundPacific LutheranL, 0–27
1993 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Linfield
Pacific Lutheran		W, 28–26
L, 17–35
1995 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship		 Western Washington
Hardin–Simmons
Mary (ND)
Findlay 		W, 28–21
W, 40–20
W, 48–7
T, 21–21
1998 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Rocky Mountain
Azusa Pacific 		W, 41–38 OT
L, 28–35

Stadium

The Central Washington Wildcats have played their home games at Tomlinson Stadium since its construction in 1959 (Field named to Steve Hertling Field in 2024). The current permanent capacity of the stadium is 4,000. [3]

Rivalries

Western Washington

Notable players

References

  1. ↑ CWU Brand Identity Standards Quick Guide (PDF). October 20, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Three football teams to join LSC as affiliate members". Lone Star Conference. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Facilities". Central Washington University Athletics. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
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