List of Air Force Falcons head football coaches

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Fisher DeBerry, the longest-serving and winningest coach in Air Force history Fisher DeBerry (cropped).jpg
Fisher DeBerry, the longest-serving and winningest coach in Air Force history

The Air Force Falcons football team represents the United States Air Force Academy in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference (MW), competing as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The program began in 1955 as an independent; Air Force joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1980 and later moved to the Mountain West. During this sixty-two year period, the Falcons have had seven head coaches. [1] Troy Calhoun has been the head coach of the program since December 2006, following Fisher DeBerry's retirement. [2]

Contents

The falcon was adopted as the team's nickname by the academy's inaugural 1955 freshman team, who felt the bird characterizes the role the school's airmen will play following graduation. A series of live falcons, nicknamed "Mach 1", have served as the team mascot since that 1955 season. [3] [4] The Falcons have played in 757 games over the programs 66-season history. During that time, four of the programs coaches have led teams to a combined twenty-six bowl games. Additionally, two, DeBerry and Calhoun, have led the program to a divisional title and DeBerry guided the school to three conference championships. Both DeBerry and Buck Shaw, the former of whom spent his entire head coaching career at Air Force, have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. [1] [5]

DeBerry holds most of Air Force's coaching records, including years coached (23), games coached (279), total wins (169), total losses (109), overall win percentage (0.608), conference wins (100), conference losses (73), conference win percentage (0.578), and postseason appearances (12). Bill Parcells has the fewest wins (3) and lowest win percentage (0.273). Robert V. Whitlow, the program's first coach, has the fewest games coached (8) and fewest losses (4). Ken Hatfield has the lowest win percentage among coaches with more than one season (0.449). [1]

Key

Key to symbols in coaches list
GeneralOverallConferencePostseason [A 1]
No.Order of coaches [A 2] GCGames coachedCWConference winsPWPostseason wins
DCDivision championshipsOWOverall winsCLConference lossesPLPostseason losses
CCConference championshipsOLOverall lossesCTConference tiesPTPostseason ties
NCNational championshipsOTOverall ties [A 3] C%Conference winning percentage
†Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame O%Overall winning percentage [A 4]

Coaches

List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, conference records [A 5] , postseason records, championships and selected awards [A 6]
No.NameSeason(s)GCOWOLOTO%CWCLCTC%PWPLPTDCCCNCAwards
1 Robert V. Whitlow 195584400.5000000
2 Buck Shaw † [12] 1956–57199820.5260000
3 Ben Martin 1958–772089610390.4830210
4 Bill Parcells 1978113800.2730000
5 Ken Hatfield 1979–8359263210.449121100.52220000 AFCA Coach of the Year (1983) [13]
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (1983) [14]
6 Fisher DeBerry † [15] 1984–200627916910910.6081007310.578660130 AFCA Coach of the Year (1985) [13]
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (1985) [14]
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1985) [16]
WAC Coach of the Year (1985, 1995, 1998) [17]
7 Troy Calhoun 2007–present212130820.61377540.58885200 MWC Coach of the Year (2007) [17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Although the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902, it has been continuously played since the 1916 game, and is recognized as the oldest bowl game by the NCAA. "—" indicates any season prior to 1916 when postseason games were not played. [6]
  2. ↑ A running total of the number of head coaches, with coaches who served separate tenures being counted only once. Interim head coaches are represented with "Int" and are not counted in the running total. "—" indicates the team played but either without a coach or no coach is on record. "X" indicates an interim year without play.
  3. ↑ Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since. [7]
  4. ↑ When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss. [8]
  5. ↑ The Falcons were members of the Western Athletic Conference from 1980 to 1998, prior to which they competed as an independent. Since 1999, Air Force has been a member of the Mountain West Conference. [5] [9] The Falcons have been members of conference divisions at two points; between 1996 and 1998 in the Western Athletic Conference, [10] and since 2013 in the Mountain West Conference. [11]
  6. ↑ Statistics correct as of the end of the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons were led by ninth-year head coach Troy Calhoun and played their home games at Falcon Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference in the Mountain Division. They finished the season 8–6, 6–2 in Mountain West play to win the Mountain Division championship. They represented the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Championship Game where they lost to West Division champion San Diego State. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they lost to California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons were led by tenth-year head coach Troy Calhoun and played their home games at Falcon Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference in the Mountain Division. They finished the season 10–3, 5–3 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Arizona Bowl where they defeated South Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Force Falcons football statistical leaders</span>

The Air Force Falcons football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Air Force Falcons football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Falcons represent the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in the NCAA's Mountain West Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 1997 Air Force Falcons football team competed for the United States Air Force Academy in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by 14th-year head coach Fisher DeBerry and played its home games at Falcon Stadium. It finished the regular season with a 10–2 record overall and a 6–2 record in Western Athletic Conference games. The team was selected to play in the Las Vegas Bowl, in which it lost to Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 1992 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by ninth-year head coach Fisher DeBerry and played its home games at Falcon Stadium. It finished the regular season with a 7–5 record overall and a 4–4 record in Western Athletic Conference games. The team was selected to play in the Liberty Bowl, in which it lost to Ole Miss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 1990 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by 7th-year head coach Fisher DeBerry and played its home games at Falcon Stadium. It finished the season with a 6–5 record overall and a 3–4 record in Western Athletic Conference games. The team was selected to play in the Liberty Bowl, in which it defeated Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 1984 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Fisher DeBerry, Air Force played its home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs and finished the regular season at 7–4. The Falcons were again invited to the Independence Bowl and defeated Virginia Tech 23–7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 1983 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Ken Hatfield, Air Force played its home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs and finished the regular season at 9–2. The Falcons were invited to play in the Independence Bowl and defeated Ole Miss 9–3. With a 10–2 record, Air Force climbed to thirteenth in the final AP poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 Air Force Falcons football team</span> American college football season

The 1982 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Ken Hatfield, Air Force played its home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs and finished the regular season at 7–5, for their first winning record in nine years.

References

General

Specific

  1. 1 2 3 Air Force Coaching Records (2014).
  2. ↑ "Falcons Hire Calhoun to Replace DeBerry". The Washington Post . Washington, D.C. Associated Press. December 22, 2006. Football. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  3. ↑ Staff (September 27, 2011). "Academy Falcons and Falconry". United States Air Force Academy . United States Air Force. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ Beech, Mark (2012). "Golden Days". When Saturday Mattered Most: The Last Golden Season of Army Football. New York City: St. Martin's Press. pp. 173–174. ISBN   978-1-250-01356-9.
  5. 1 2 Air Force Football: History, pp. 160-165.
  6. ↑ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2011). Bowl/All-Star Game Records (PDF). Indianapolis, Indiana: NCAA. pp. 5–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  7. ↑ Whiteside, Kelly (August 25, 2006). "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  8. ↑ Finder, Chuck (September 6, 1987). "Big plays help Paterno to 200th". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
  9. ↑ Staff (2018). "Air Force Falcons School History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  10. ↑ "In the 1990s, WAC produced a 16-team conference that didn't work". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Pittsburgh. McClatchy Newspapers. September 15, 2011. News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ Myerberg, Paul (January 22, 2013). "Mountain West splits 12 football schools into six-team divisions". USA Today . McLean, Virginia. Sports. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  12. ↑ Staff (2016). "Member Biography: Buck "The Silver Fox" Shaw". College Football Hall of Fame . National Football Foundation . Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Staff (2015). "Past National Coach of the Year Winners". AFCA Coaching Awards. American Football Coaches Association. Football Bowl Subdivision. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  14. 1 2 Staff (2015). "Previous Winners". The Dodd Trophy. Peach Bowl, Inc. 1980's. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  15. ↑ Staff (2016). "Member Biography: Fisher DeBerry". College Football Hall of Fame. National Football Foundation. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  16. ↑ Staff (2016). "Coach of the Year". Awards. Walter Camp Football Foundation. Prior Award Winners. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Air Force Football: History, p. 140.
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