Christopher Newport Captains football

Last updated
Christopher Newport Captains football
Cnu athletics mark.png
First season2001;24 years ago (2001)
Athletic directorKyle McMullin
Head coach Paul Crowley
4th season, 21–10 (.677)
Stadium TowneBank Stadium
(capacity: 4,200)
Field surfaceKentucky Bluegrass
Location Newport News, Virginia
Conference NJAC
All-time record149–92 (.618)
Bowl record4–10 (.286)
Conference titles10
ColorsRoyal blue and silver [1]
   
MascotCaptain Chris
Website cnusports.com/football

The Christopher Newport Captains football team represents Christopher Newport University in the NCAA Division III, competing as football-only members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Christopher Newport (CNU) plays its home games at the 4,200 seat TowneBank Stadium, which is located on-campus in Newport News, Virginia. Founded in 2001, the Captains were led by head coach Matt Kelchner until 2016. Coach Art Link, only the second head coach in CNU football history took the helm starting with the 2017 football season. After 11 seasons with the USA South Athletic Conference, the Captains shifted to the NJAC to start the 2015 season.

Contents

History

By the late 1990s, the prospect of bringing football to Christopher Newport was gaining momentum from both students and the administration alike. On December 16, 1999, the CNU Board of Visitors voted in favor of starting a football program to compete at the Division III level by the 2001 season. [2] By Spring 2000, the initial schedule was released for play in the Dixie Conference in 2001, and on May 9, 2000, Matt Kelchner was announced as the program's first head coach. [3] In the Captains history, the program has captured seven co-conference and four outright conference championship in addition to making eleven appearances in the Division III playoffs.

Seasons

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs Coaches#AP°
Christopher Newport Captains(Dixie Conference)(2001–2002)
2001 Matt Kelchner 5–4Dixie ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III First Round
2002Matt Kelchner6–5Dixie ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III First Round
Christopher Newport Captains(USA South Athletic Conference)(2003–2014)
2003Matt Kelchner8–3USA South ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III Second Round
2004Matt Kelchner9–3USA South ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III Second Round
2005Matt Kelchner6–4USA South ConferenceT–3rd
2006Matt Kelchner8–3USA South ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III Second Round
2007Matt Kelchner7–3USA South Conference2nd
2008Matt Kelchner8–2USA South Conference1stL NCAA Division III First Round
2009Matt Kelchner5–5USA South Conference3rd
2010Matt Kelchner6–5USA South ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III First Round
2011Matt Kelchner8–3USA South Conference1stL NCAA Division III First Round
2012Matt Kelchner6–5USA South ConferenceT–1stL NCAA Division III First Round
2013Matt Kelchner8–2USA South ConferenceT–3rd
2014Matt Kelchner8–4USA South Conference1stL NCAA Division III Second Round
Christopher Newport Captains(New Jersey Athletic Conference)(2015–present)
2015Matt Kelchner4–6New Jersey Athletic ConferenceT–7th
2016Matt Kelchner7–3New Jersey Athletic ConferenceT–4th
2017 Art Link 5–5New Jersey Athletic ConferenceT–5th
2018Art Link7–2New Jersey Athletic Conference4th
2019Art Link2–8New Jersey Athletic ConferenceT–6th
2020Art Link0–2*New Jersey Athletic Conference6th*Shortened season due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Art Link5–5New Jersey Athletic Conference3rd
2022 Paul Crowley 7–3New Jersey Athletic Conference2nd
2023Paul Crowley7–4New Jersey Athletic Conference1stL NCAA Division III First Round
2024Paul Crowley7–3New Jersey Athletic Conference2nd
Total:149–92
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

[4]

Playoffs

YearRoundOpponentResult
2001 First Round Widener L, 7–56
2002 First Round Washington & Jefferson L, 10–24
2003 First Round
Second Round		 Muhlenberg
Bridgewater (VA) 		W, 24–20
L, 3–26
2004 First Round
Second Round		 Salisbury
Washington & Jefferson		W, 35–24
L, 14–24
2006 First RoundWashington & JeffersonL, 23–27
2008 First RoundWashington & JeffersonL, 29–35
2010 First Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 7–59
2011 First Round Kean L, 10–34
2012 First Round Mount Union L, 14–72
2014 First Round
Second Round		 Delaware Valley
Widener		W, 29–26
L, 27–37
2023 First Round Randolph–Macon L, 20–28

See also

References

  1. ↑ "CNU Brand Expression" . Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. ↑ Barrett, Stephanie (December 17, 1999). "CNU agrees to tackle football". The Daily Press.
  3. ↑ Williams, Jennifer L. (May 10, 2000). "CNU named first coach". The Daily Press.
  4. ↑ "CNU Football History". CNU Athletics. Christopher Newport University Athletics. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
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