Charleston Golden Eagles football

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Charleston Golden Eagles football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Charleston Golden Eagles football team
UC Golden Eagles logo.png
First season1904;121 years ago (1904)
Athletic directorBren Stevens
Head coachMichael Tesch
1st season, 1–1 (.500)
Stadium University of Charleston Stadium
(capacity: 18,500)
FieldLaidley Field
Field surfaceArtificial Turf
Location Charleston, West Virginia
NCAA division Division II
Conference Mountain East Conference
Past conferences Independent
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
All-time record29928519 (.512)
Bowl record31 (.750)
Playoff appearances3 (2015, 2023, 2024)
Playoff record1–3 (.250)
Conference titles9 (1938, 1942, 1948,
1950, 1951, 1953,
1954, 2023, 2024)
Division titles1 (2020)
Rivalries West Virginia State
Concord
Consensus All-Americans1
ColorsMaroon and gold [1]
   
Website Charleston Golden Eagles football

The Charleston Golden Eagles football program represents University of Charleston in college football at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). [2] The Golden Eagles play home games at University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field in Charleston, West Virginia.

Contents

History

The University of Charleston, located in Charleston, West Virginia, first fielded a football team in 1904 when the institution was known as Morris Harvey College until the conclusion of the 1956 season.. The program competed intermittently in its early decades and was a member of the WVIAC.

After a 47-year hiatus, the University of Charleston revived its football program in 2003, joining the WVIAC once again. The program re-established itself in NCAA Division II competition and, upon the WVIAC’s dissolution in 2012, became a charter member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in 2013.

Under head coach Pat Kirkland, who took over in 2011, the Golden Eagles enjoyed a historic season in 2015, finishing 10–2, claiming a share of the MEC championship, and earning the program’s first berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. [3]

Championships

Conference championships

YearConferenceCoachRecordConference record
1938 WVIAC Thurman Ward8–1–17–0–1
1942 Cebe Ross 6–1–24–0
1948 Eddie King 5–2–23–0–1
1950 10–05–0
1951 6–3–14–0
1953 6–4–14–0
1954 8–24–0
2023 MEC Quinn Sanders 10–28–1
2024 11–19–0

Sources: [2]

Division championships

For the 2020 season, the Mountain East Conference decided to play a division format.

YearDivisionCoachOpponentCG Result
2020 Mountain East Conference - SouthPat Kirkland Notre Dame (OH) L 34-51

sources: [4]

Rivalries

Primary UC Golden Eagles Football Rivalries: All-Time Records
Name of rivalryRivalGames playedFirst meetingLast meetingUC WonUC LostTiesStreakLatest win
Kanawha Classic [5] West Virginia State Yellow Jackets 202005202417302 wins2024, 52-17
Charleston - Concord rivalry [6] Concord Mountain Lions 4119222024241522 wins2024, 42-17
Totals6141182

Sources: [7] [8]

Awards and honors

National awards

Abbreviations:
AFCA – AFCA Division II Coaches’
D2CCA – Division II Conference Commissioners Association
AP – Associated Press
D2F – D2Football.com
DH – Don Hansen Division II All-America Team
WC – Walter Camp Division II All-America Team

Notable Alumni

Players Drafted into the NFL

Morris Harvey College / University of Charleston
Players Drafted
YearPlayerPositionRoundPickNFL team
1943 Verlin Adams Guard31291 New York Giants
1951 Charlie HubbardDefensive End27326 New York Giants
2019 John Cominsky Defensive End4135 Atlanta Falcons
2021 Mike Strachan Wide Receiver7229 Indianapolis Colts

[18] [19]

Former Players Who Played in the NFL

Former Players Who Became Coaches

Seasons

Legend

  Conference champions
  Division champions
  Bowl game berth
  Playoff berth (NCAA DII)

List of Charleston Golden Eagles football seasons
SeasonTeam Head coach ConferenceDivisionRegular season resultsPostseasonFinal ranking
OverallConferenceAFCA PollD2Football.com
WinLossTieWinLossTieFinish
Charleston Golden Eagles
1904 1904Walter O. RoppIndependent20
1905 190501
1906 190601
1907 190723
1908 1908No Coach30
1909 190903
1910 1910Kemper Shelton021
1911 191143
1912 191222
1913 1913222
1914 1914Diener04
1915 1915No Coach00
1916 1916Diener02
1917 1917 Herman R. Beckelheimer 241
1918 191800
1919 1919W.W. Lovell15
1920 1920Brownie Fulton52
1921 1921 Herman R. Beckelheimer 63
1922 1922441
1923 192308
1924 1924H.J. Hindman WVIAC 04
1925 19251603DNQ
1926 1926Brownie Fulton3603DNQ
1927 192734112DNQ
1928 1928291611th
1929 1929A.E. Rezzonico0110814th
1930 1930Frank Arritt2521328th
1931 1931 Gibby Welch 55453rd
1932 1932 Red Weaver 09047th
1933 193318057th
1934 1934Walter Walker3513213rd
1935 193527244th
1936 1936 Homer C. Martin 09079th
1937 1937Thurman Ward54344th
1938 1938†8117011st
1939 19396312214th
1940 19405314113rd
1941 19415313012nd
1942 1942† Cebe Ross 612401st
1943 No team — World War II
1944
1945
1946 1946 Alderson Propps / Eddie King WVIAC 25237th
1947 1947 Eddie King 45337th
1948 1948†5223011st
1949 1949722313rd
1950 1950†100501st 1951 Tangerine Bowl: (W) Emory and Henry, 12-0
1951 1951†631401st 1951 Burley Bowl: (W) Lebanon Valley, 27-20
1952 195263402nd
1953 1953†641401st 1954 Elks Bowl: (W) East Carolina, 12-0
1954 1954†82401st 1954 Cigar Bowl: (L) Tampa, 0-21
1955 19554520DNQ
1956 19565410DNQ
2003 2003 Mike Springston Independent29
2004 2004 37
2005 2005 Tony DeMeo WVIAC 83623rd
2006 2006 5643T–2nd
2007 2007 8362T–2nd
2008 2008 7453T–4th
2009 2009 9262T–2nd23
2010 2010 6544T–5th
2011 2011 Pat Kirkland5653T–4th
2012 2012 9262T–2nd25
2013 2013 MEC 65633rd
2014 2014 8373T–3rd
2015 2015102912nd NCAA Division II Playoffs – First Round (L)20
2016 20163837T–6th
2017 20174646T–4th
2018 201865644th
2019 201983732nd
2020 2020 South31301st(South)
2021 202182822nd
2022 2022 Quinn Sanders 6564T–4th
2023 2023 102811st NCAA Division II Playoffs – Second Round (L)1918
2024 2024 111901st NCAA Division II Playoffs – First Round (L)1518
Totals (1904–2024)All-time:
298–284–19
(.512)
Conference:
118–55
(.682)
Postseason:
4–4
(.500)

[31] [32] [33]

Undefeated regular seasons

University of Charleston undefeated regular seasons
YearOverall recordConference recordHead coachNotes
19509–05–0 Eddie King Won the 1951 Tangerine Bowl; finished season 10–0 including postseason
202411–09–0 Quinn Sanders Undefeated in the regular season; lost in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Division II football playoffs

Top 25 finishes

University of Charleston football notable regular seasons
YearHead coachRecordAFCAD2Football
2009 Tony DeMeo 9–2No. 23
2012Pat Kirkland9–2No. 25
2015Pat Kirkland10–2No. 20
2023 Quinn Sanders 10–2No. 19No. 18
2024 Quinn Sanders11–1No. 15No. 18

Sources: [2]

Records vs Opponents

Record vs. Current MEC Members

Charleston is a founding member of the Mountain East Conference, joining at the league’s inception in the 2013–14 academic year.

OpponentFirst MeetingWinsLossesTiesTotal MeetingsRef
Concord Mountain Lions 19222415241 [34]
Davis & Elkins Senators 192186216
Fairmont State Falcons 1928168125 [35]
Frostburg State Bobcats 20192305 [36]
Glenville State Pioneers 19202416040
West Virginia State Yellow Jackets 2005173020 [37]
West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats 1910217230
West Liberty Hilltoppers 19271914134 [38]
Wheeling Cardinals 20194004 [39]
Total135728215

– School is currently a member of the Mountain East Conference but no longer sponsors a football program.
[40]

Record vs. current FBS and FCS members

Charleston has played a number of games against programs that currently compete in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The following table lists the Golden Eagles' all-time record against these opponents.

YearOpponentResultOpponent's Head CoachGolden Eagles Head Coach
1912 Notre Dame 0–39 John L. Marks Kemper Shelton
1913 Virginia Tech 0–14Kemper Shelton
1913 Marshall 6–0Kemper Shelton
1913 VMI 0–0Kemper Shelton
1913 West Virginia 0–0Kemper Shelton
1914Marshall6–32Diener
1917Marshall7–7Herman R. Beckelheimer
1919Marshall0–79W. W. Lovell
1920Marshall47–0Brownie Fulton
1921 Ohio 0–40Herman R. Beckelheimer
1921 Xavier 7–21Herman R. Beckelheimer
1921 Virginia Tech 7–54Herman R. Beckelheimer
1922Xavier6–44Herman R. Beckelheimer
1922 VMI 0–62Herman R. Beckelheimer
1923 Louisville 0–27Herman R. Beckelheimer
1923Marshall6–7Herman R. Beckelheimer
1925Morehead State12–6H. J. Hindman
1925Marshall2–52H. J. Hindman
1926Morehead State6–12Brownie Fulton
1927 Xavier 6–39Brownie Fulton
1927Morehead State31–0Brownie Fulton
1928 Eastern Kentucky 18–0Brownie Fulton
1928Marshall0–48Brownie Fulton
1928Morehead State0–13Brownie Fulton
1929Morehead State0–20A. E. Rezzonico
1929Marshall6–56A. E. Rezzonico
1930Morehead State8–6Frank Arritt
1930Marshall0–7Frank Arritt
1931Marshall6–20Gibby Welch
1932 Dayton 0–18Red Weaver
1932Marshall0–13Red Weaver
1932 Saint Francis 0–25Red Weaver
1933Ohio0–62Red Weaver
1934Dayton14–31Walter Walker
1934Marshall0–29Walter Walker
1935Marshall0–18Walter Walker
1936Marshall0–59Homer C. Martin
1938Ohio6–0Thurman Ward
1939Youngstown State7–0Thurman Ward
1939Marshall0–26Thurman Ward
1939Ohio13–14Thurman Ward
1940Marshall7–33Thurman Ward
1940Saint Francis7–13Thurman Ward
1941Youngstown State7–12Thurman Ward
1941Tennessee Tech6–25Thurman Ward
1942Eastern Kentucky7–0Cebe Ross
1942Marshall6–0Cebe Ross
1942Morehead State0–0Cebe Ross
1942Tennessee Tech0–0Cebe Ross
1946Youngstown State14–28Eddie King
1946Marshall0–34Eddie King
1946Morehead State6–39Alderson Propps
1947Marshall6–40Eddie King
1948Bowling Green6–48Eddie King
1949Bowling Green21–0Eddie King
1949Appalachian State21–12Eddie King
1950 Kent State 7–0Eddie King
1951Ohio0–26Carroll WiddoesEddie King
1951Kent State14–14Eddie King
1951Marshall0–19Eddie King
1952Ohio6–20Carroll WiddoesEddie King
1952Marshall14–13Eddie King
1952Appalachian State34–13Eddie King
1953Appalachian State6–26Eddie King
1953Ohio7–38Carroll WiddoesEddie King
1953Marshall14–14Eddie King
1953 East Carolina (1954 Elks Bowl)12–0Eddie King
1954Marshall14–25Eddie King
1954Morehead State45–7Eddie King
1955Marshall7–46Eddie King
1955Morehead State40–7Eddie King
1955Middle Tennessee State7–14Eddie King
1955Youngstown State14–12Eddie King
1955Eastern Kentucky6–20Eddie King
1956Marshall13–25Eddie King
1956Youngstown State6–0Eddie King
1956Eastern Kentucky7–13Eddie King
1956Middle Tennessee State6–0Eddie King
1956East Carolina28–0Eddie King
2003Morehead State10–48Matt BallardMike Springston
2003 Coastal Carolina 0–47David BennettMike Springston
2004Charleston Southern21–38Jay MillsMike Springston
2004 Austin Peay 20–28Carroll McCrayMike Springston
2004 Coastal Carolina 13–48David BennettMike Springston
2004Morehead State3–49Matt BallardMike Springston
2005Austin Peay27–19Carroll McCrayTony DeMeo
2006Austin Peay10–49Carroll McCrayTony DeMeo
2013Southern Illinois10–31Dale LennonPat Kirkland
2019Valparaiso19–13Landon FoxPat Kirkland

Charleston vs. in-state schools

The following table lists the University of Charleston's all-time football record against other colleges and universities located in West Virginia.

Record vs. in-state opponents
OpponentFirst meetingWinsLossesTiesTotal meetingsCurrent conferenceNotes
Alderson Broaddus 20153104Discontinued its football program when the university closed after the 2022 season
Bethany 19125207 Presidents' Athletic Conference
Concord 19222415241 Mountain East Conference [41]
Davis & Elkins 192186216Mountain East Conference
Fairmont State 1928168125Mountain East Conference [42]
Glenville State 19202416040Mountain East Conference
Marshall 1906420226 Sun Belt Conference
Potomac State 19372305Discontinued its football program
Salem 192368014Discontinued its football program after the 1988 season [43]
Shepherd 1949412016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference [44]
West Liberty 19271914134Mountain East Conference [45]
West Virginia State 2005173020Mountain East Conference [46]
West Virginia 19130011 Big 12 Conference
West Virginia Tech 19211512027Discontinued its football program after the 2011 season [47]
West Virginia Wesleyan 1910217230Mountain East Conference
Total168 127 11 306

[48] [49]

References

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  2. 1 2 3 "UC Football Decade Page" (PDF). s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  3. https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/d2
  4. "2020 Football Standings (To be Played in Spring 2021)".
  5. "UC Football takes MEC South Title with Kanawha Classic win over WVSU". WOWK 13 News. April 11, 2021.
  6. "UC Football takes MEC South Title with Kanawha Classic win over WVSU". WOWK 13 News. April 11, 2021.
  7. "Football History vs West Virginia State University".
  8. "SINCE 1998 - All-time Game Results".
  9. https://static.iupathletics.com/custompages/Football/2011/FB%20GAZ%20A-ATEAM2011.pdf
  10. https://static.cspbears.com/custompages/Files/Football/Releases/2012/Hansen-allamerica-team-2012.pdf
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  13. "Wright Named to AFCA, D2 CAA All-America Teams". December 19, 2024.
  14. "Wright Named to AFCA, D2 CAA All-America Teams". December 19, 2024.
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  19. "Golden Eagles See Three to the National Football League". April 22, 2025.
  20. Verlin Adams at Pro Football Reference
  21. Jimmy Carr at Pro Football Reference
  22. John Cominsky at Pro Football Reference
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  29. Al Thacker at Pro Football Reference
  30. Frank Turbert at Pro Football Reference
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  32. https://ucgoldeneagles.com/documents/2016/12/13/UC%20Football%20Decade%20Page.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  33. https://www.d2football.com/d2football.com-top-25-poll17349039580709/
  34. https://cumountainlions.com/documents/2024/11/11/Football_Record_Book.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  35. https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/fairmontst.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/11/9/2023_Football_Record_Book.pdf
  36. "Football History vs Frostburg State University".
  37. "SINCE 1998 - All-time Game Results".
  38. "Football 2024 All Time Series Records DONE 52825" (PDF).
  39. "Football History vs Wheeling University".
  40. Insert relevant UC or conference media guide references here
  41. https://cumountainlions.com/documents/2024/11/11/Football_Record_Book.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  42. https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/fairmontst.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/11/9/2023_Football_Record_Book.pdf
  43. "Morris Harvey Team History" (PDF).
  44. "2024Fbresults" (PDF).
  45. "Football 2024 All Time Series Records DONE 52825" (PDF).
  46. "SINCE 1998 - All-time Game Results".
  47. "Morris Harvey Team History" (PDF).
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  49. https://ucgoldeneagles.com/documents/2016/12/13/UC%20Football%20Decade%20Page.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]