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
Dagger-14-plain.pngElected 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–present186111750.59767480.58365200 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 2021 college football season.

Related Research Articles

Mountain West Conference Athletic conference

The Mountain West Conference (MW) is one of the collegiate athletic conferences affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The MW officially began operations on January 4, 1999. Geographically, the MW covers a broad expanse of the Western United States, with member schools located in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Craig Thompson has served as Commissioner of the MW since October 15, 1998.

Fisher DeBerry American football player and coach

James Fisher DeBerry is a retired American football player. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy from 1984 to 2006, compiling a record of 169–109–1. DeBerry led 17 of his 23 Air Force Falcons squads to winning records and captured 12 bowl game bids. Three times his teams won the Western Athletic Conference title. Once in 1985, then in 1995, and again in 1998. DeBerry retired on December 15, 2006 with the most wins and highest winning percentage (.608) in the history of Air Force football. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2011.

Troy Calhoun American football coach

Nathan Troy Calhoun is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy, a position he has held since the 2007 season.

Air Force Falcons football College football team representing the United States Air Force Academy

The Air Force Falcons football program represents the United States Air Force Academy in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Air Force has been a member of the Mountain West Conference since its founding in 1999. The Falcons play their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Troy Calhoun has been the team's head coach since 2007.

Army Black Knights football American athletic football program of the nations army Military Academy

The Army Black Knights football team, previously known as the Army Cadets, represents the United States Military Academy in college football. Army is a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member of the NCAA. The Black Knights play home games in Michie Stadium with a capacity of 38,000 at West Point, New York. The Black Knights are coached by Jeff Monken who is entering his eighth in season as head coach. Army claims three national championships, from 1944 to 1946. In addition, major selectors have awarded Army championships in 1914 and 1916. Army has produced 24 players and 4 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, 37 consensus All-Americans, and 3 Heisman Trophy winners.

Air Force Falcons Intercollegiate sports teams of the United States Air Force Academy

The Air Force Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The athletics department has 17 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned teams. The current athletic director is Nathan Pine. The majority of the Falcons teams compete as members of the Mountain West Conference.

2012 Wyoming Cowboys football team American college football season

The 2012 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cowboys were led by fourth year head coach Dave Christensen and played their home games at War Memorial Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 3–5 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for sixth place.

2014 Air Force Falcons football team American college football season

The 2014 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons were led by eighth-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 fourth place in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they defeated Western Michigan

2015 Air Force Falcons football team 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.

2016 Air Force Falcons football team 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.

Air Force Falcons football statistical leaders

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 in the NCAA's Mountain West Conference.

1995 Air Force Falcons football team American college football season

The 1995 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by 12th-year head coach Fisher DeBerry and played its home games in Falcon Stadium. It finished the regular season with an 8–4 record overall and a 6–2 record in the Western Athletic Conference, making the team conference co-champions. The team was selected to play in the Copper Bowl, which it lost 41–55 to Texas Tech.

1997 Air Force Falcons football team 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.

1992 Air Force Falcons football team 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.

1990 Air Force Falcons football team 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.

1986 Air Force Falcons football team American college football season

The 1986 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by third-year head coach Fisher DeBerry and played its home games at Falcon Stadium. They finished the season with a 6–5 record overall and a 5–2 record in Western Athletic Conference games.

1984 Air Force Falcons football team American college football season

The 1984 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by first-year head coach Fisher DeBerry and played its home games at Falcon Stadium. It finished the regular season with a 7–4 record overall and a 4–3 record in Western Athletic Conference games. The team was selected to play in the Independence Bowl, in which it defeated Virginia Tech.

1983 Air Force Falcons football team American college football season

The 1983 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Ken Hatfield and played its home games at Falcon Stadium. It finished the regular season with a 9–2 overall record and a 5–2 record in Western Athletic Conference games. The team was selected to play in the Independence Bowl, in which it defeated Ole Miss 9–3.

References

General

Specific

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  8. Finder, Chuck (September 6, 1987). "Big plays help Paterno to 200th". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
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  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.
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  17. 1 2 Air Force Football: History, p. 140.