This is a list of seasons completed by the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Since the team's creation in 1889, the Fightin' Blue Hens have participated in more than 1,100 officially sanctioned games.
For most of its existence, Delaware competed as an independent. Delaware was a member of the Mason-Dixon Conference in 1946, the Middle Atlantic Conference from 1958 to 1969, the Yankee Conference from 1986 to 1996, the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1997 to 2006, and the Coastal Athletic Association beginning in 2007.
National Champions | Conference Champions | Bowl game berth |
Year | Coach | Conference | Record [1] | Postseason | Final ranking | |||||
Wins | Losses | Ties | ||||||||
Delaware | ||||||||||
1889 | No Coach | Ind | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | ||||
1890 | Ind | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
1891 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1892 | Ind | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | |||||
1893 | Ind | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
1894 | Ind | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
1895 | Ind | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1896 | Ira Pierce | Ind | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | ||||
1897 | Herbert Rice | Ind | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
1898 | Ind | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | |||||
1899 | Ind | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
1900 | Ind | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1901 | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1902 | Clarence A. Short | Ind | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | ||||
1903 | Nathan Mannakee | Ind | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
1904 | Ind | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | |||||
1905 | Ind | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | |||||
1906 | Clarence A. Short | Ind | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | ||||
1907 | E. Pratt King | Ind | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | ||||
1908 | William McAvoy | Ind | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | ||||
1909 | Ind | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | |||||
1910 | Ind | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | |||||
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens | ||||||||||
1911 | William McAvoy | Ind | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | ||||
1912 | Ind | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | |||||
1913 | Ind | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | |||||
1914 | Ind | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||
1915 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1916 | Ind | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1917 | Stan Baumgartner | Ind | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | ||||
1918 | Milton Aronowitz | Ind | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | ||||
1919 | Burton Shipley | Ind | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | ||||
1920 | Ind | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | |||||
1921 | Sylvester Derby | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
1922 | William McAvoy | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | ||||
1923 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1924 | Ind | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1925 | R. M. Forstburg | Ind | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
1926 | Ind | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
1927 | Joseph J. Rothrock | Ind | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | ||||
1928 | Ind | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
1929 | Gus Ziegler | Ind | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | ||||
1930 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1931 | Charles Rogers | Ind | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | ||||
1932 | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1933 | Ind | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | |||||
1934 | Skip Stahley | Ind | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | ||||
1935 | Lyal Clark | Ind | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | ||||
1936 | Mason-Dixon | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
1937 | Mason-Dixon | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | |||||
1938 | Stephen Grenda | Mason-Dixon | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | ||||
1939 | Mason-Dixon | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | |||||
1940 | William D. Murray | Mason-Dixon | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | ||||
1941 | Mason-Dixon | 7 | 0 | 1 | — | |||||
1942 | Mason-Dixon | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
1946 | Mason-Dixon | 10 | 0 | 0 | Won 1947 Cigar Bowl vs. Rollins, 21–7 | 19 | ||||
1947 | Ind | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1948 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1949 | Ind | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
1950 | Ind | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | |||||
1951 | David M. Nelson | Ind | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | ||||
1952 | Ind | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1953 | Ind | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
1954 | Ind | 8 | 2 | 0 | Won 1954 Refrigerator Bowl vs. Kent State, 19–7 | — | ||||
1955 | Ind | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
1956 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1957 | Ind | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1958 | MAC | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1959 | MAC | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
1960 | MAC | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | |||||
1961 | MAC | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1962 | MAC | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
1963 | MAC | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
1964 | MAC | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
1965 | MAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1966 | Tubby Raymond | MAC | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | ||||
1967 | MAC | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | |||||
1968 | MAC | 8 | 3 | 0 | Won 1968 Boardwalk Bowl vs. IUP, 31–24 | — | ||||
1969 | MAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | Won 1969 Boardwalk Bowl vs. North Carolina Central, 31–13 | — | ||||
1970 | Ind | 9 | 2 | 0 | Won 1970 Boardwalk Bowl vs. Morgan State, 38–23 | — | ||||
1971 | Ind | 10 | 1 | 0 | Won 1971 Boardwalk Bowl vs. C.W. Post, 72–22 | — | ||||
1972 | Ind | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
1973 | Ind | 8 | 4 | 0 | Lost NCAA Semifinals (1973 Boardwalk Bowl) vs. Grambling State, 8–17 | — | ||||
1974 | Ind | 12 | 2 | 0 | Won NCAA Quarterfinals vs. Youngstown State, 35–14 Won NCAA Semifinals (Grantland Rice Bowl) vs. UNLV, 49–11 Lost NCAA Division II Championship Game (Camellia Bowl) vs. Central Michigan, 14–54 | — | ||||
1975 | Ind | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1976 | Ind | 8 | 3 | 1 | Lost NCAA Quarterfinals vs. Northern Michigan, 17–28 | — | ||||
1977 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1978 | Ind | 10 | 4 | 0 | Won NCAA Quarterfinals vs. Jacksonville State, 42–27 Won NCAA Semifinals vs. Winston-Salem, 41–0 Lost NCAA Division II Championship Game vs. Eastern Illinois, 9–10 | — | ||||
1979 | Ind | 13 | 1 | 0 | Won NCAA Quarterfinals vs. Virginia Union, 58–28 Won NCAA Semifinals vs. Mississippi College, 60–10 Won NCAA Division II Championship Game (Zia Bowl) vs. Youngstown State, 38–21 | — | ||||
1980 | Ind | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
1981 | Ind | 9 | 3 | 0 | Lost NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Eastern Kentucky, 28–35 | — | ||||
1982 | Ind | 12 | 2 | 0 | Won NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Colgate, 20–13 Won NCAA I-AA Semifinals vs. Louisiana Tech, 17–0 Lost NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game (Pioneer Bowl) vs. Eastern Kentucky, 14–17 | — | ||||
1983 | Ind | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | |||||
1984 | Ind | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
1985 | Ind | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1986 | Yankee | 9 | 4 | 0 | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. William & Mary, 51–17 Lost NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Arkansas State, 14–55 | — | ||||
1987 | Yankee | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
1988 | Yankee | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Furman, 7–21 | — | ||||
1989 | Yankee | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
1990 | Yankee | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
1991 | Yankee | 10 | 2 | 0 | Lost NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. James Madison, 35–42 (2OT) | — | ||||
1992 | Yankee | 11 | 3 | 0 | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Samford, 56–21 Won NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Northeast Louisiana, 41–18 Lost I-AA Semifinals vs. Marshall, 7–28 | — | ||||
1993 | Yankee | 9 | 4 | 0 | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Montana, 49–48 Lost NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Marshall, 31–34 | — | ||||
1994 | Yankee | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
1995 | Yankee | 11 | 2 | 0 | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Hofstra, 38–17 Lost NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. McNeese State, 18–52 | — | ||||
1996 | Yankee | 8 | 4 | — [A 1] | Lost NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Marshall, 14–59 | 10 | ||||
1997 | Atlantic 10 | 12 | 2 | — | Won NCAA I-AA 1st Round vs. Hofstra, 24–14 Won NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Georgia Southern, 16–7 Lost NCAA I-AA Semifinal vs. McNeese State, 21–23 | 3 | ||||
1998 | Atlantic 10 | 7 | 4 | — | 23 | |||||
1999 | Atlantic 10 | 7 | 4 | — | — | |||||
2000 | Atlantic 10 | 12 | 2 | — | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Portland State, 49–14 Won NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Lehigh, 49–22 Lost NCAA I-AA Semifinals vs. Georgia Southern, 18–27 | 3 | ||||
2001 | Atlantic 10 | 4 | 6 | — | — | |||||
2002 | K. C. Keeler | Atlantic 10 | 6 | 6 | — | — | ||||
2003 | Atlantic 10 | 15 | 1 | — | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Southern Illinois, 48–7 Won NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Northern Iowa, 37–7 Won NCAA I-AA Semifinals vs. Wofford Won NCAA I-AA Championship Game vs. Colgate, 40–0 | 1 | ||||
2004 | Atlantic 10 | 9 | 4 | — | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Lafayette, 28–14 Lost NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. William & Mary, 38–44 | 7 | ||||
2005 | Atlantic 10 | 6 | 5 | — | — | |||||
2006 | Atlantic 10 | 5 | 6 | — | — | |||||
2007 | CAA | 11 | 4 | — | Won NCAA I-AA Opening Round vs. Delaware State, 44–7 Won NCAA I-AA Quarterfinals vs. Northern Iowa, 39–27 Won NCAA I-AA Semifinals vs. Southern Illinois, 20–17 Lost NCAA I-AA Championship Game vs. Appalachian State, 21–49 | 2 | ||||
2008 | CAA | 4 | 8 | — | — | |||||
2009 | CAA | 6 | 5 | — | — | |||||
2010 | CAA | 12 | 3 | — | Won NCAA FCS Second Round vs. Lehigh, 42–20 Won NCAA FCS Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire, 16–3 Won NCAA FCS Semifinals vs. Georgia Southern, 27–10 Lost NCAA FCS Championship vs. Eastern Washington, 19–20 | 2 | ||||
2011 | CAA | 7 | 4 | — | 17 | |||||
2012 | CAA | 5 | 6 | — | — | |||||
2013 | Dave Brock | CAA | 7 | 5 | — | — | ||||
2014 | CAA | 6 | 6 | — | — | |||||
2015 | CAA | 4 | 7 | — | — | |||||
2016 | Dave Brock Dennis Dottin-Carter (interim) [A 2] | CAA | 4 | 7 | — | — | ||||
2017 | Danny Rocco | CAA | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
2018 | CAA | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost NCAA FCS First Round vs. James Madison, 6–20 | 24 | ||||
2019 | CAA | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | |||||
2020 | CAA | 7 | 1 | 0 | Won NCAA FCS First Round vs. Sacred Heart, 19–10 Won NCAA FCS Quarterfinals vs. Jacksonville State, 20–14 Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals vs. South Dakota State, 3–33 | 5 | ||||
2021 | CAA | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
2022 | Ryan Carty | CAA | 8 | 5 | 0 | Won NCAA FCS First Round vs. Saint Francis (PA), 56–17 Lost NCAA FCS Second Round vs. South Dakota State, 6–42 | 19 | |||
2023 | CAA | 9 | 4 | 0 | Won NCAA FCS First Round vs. Lafayette, 36–34 Lost NCAA FCS Second Round vs. Montana, 19–49 | 10 | ||||
Total | 732 | 483 | 44 | (all games) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represents the University of Delaware (UD) in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) college football as a member of CAA Football, the technically separate football arm of UD's full-time home of the Coastal Athletic Association. The team is currently led by head coach Ryan Carty and plays on Tubby Raymond Field at 18,500-seat Delaware Stadium located in Newark, Delaware. The Fightin' Blue Hens have won six national titles in their 117-year history – 1946, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1979, and 2003. They returned to the FCS National Championship game in 2007 and 2010. The program has produced NFL quarterbacks Rich Gannon, Joe Flacco, Jeff Komlo, Pat Devlin and Scott Brunner. The Blue Hens are recognized as a perennial power in FCS football and Delaware was the only FCS program to average more than 20,000 fans per regular-season home game for each season from 1999 to 2010. In 2023, the program announced it will move into Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) prior to the 2025 season.
The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens are the athletic teams of the University of Delaware (UD) of Newark, Delaware, in the United States. The Blue Hens compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Coastal Athletic Association and its technically separate football league, CAA Football.
The 2010 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by ninth-year head coach K. C. Keeler, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 12–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, sharing the CAA title with William & Mary. Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Fightin' Blue Hens received a first round bye. They beat Lehigh in the second round, New Hampshire in the quarterfinals, and Georgia Southern in the semifinals before losing to Eastern Washington in the NCAA Division I Championship Game, after leading by 19 points late in the third quarter. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2007 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the South Division of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by sixth-year head coach K. C. Keeler, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 11–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the CAA's South Division. Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Fightin' Blue Hens beat Delaware State in the first round, Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals, and Southern Illinois in the semifinals before losing to Appalachian State in the NCAA Division I Championship Game. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The school's team currently competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) since 2001. Home games are played at the Acierno Arena at the Bob Carpenter Center.
The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens women's basketball team is the basketball team that represents University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The school's team currently competes in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). After the 2024–25 season, Delaware will leave the CAA to join Conference USA.
The 2012 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by K. C. Keeler in his 11th and final season as head coach, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, placing eighth in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 1979 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by 14th year head coach Tubby Raymond and played their home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2014 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Dave Brock, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 6–6 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing in a four-way tie for fifth in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2006 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the South Division of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) during the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach K. C. Keeler, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the A-10's South Division. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 1993 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Yankee Conference during the 1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 28th-year head coach Tubby Raymond, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the Yankee Conference's Mid-Atlantic Division. For the third consecutive season, Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where the Fightin' Blue Hens beat Montana in the first round before for losing to the eventual national runner-up, Marshall, in the quarterfinals. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 1996 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Yankee Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 31st-year head coach Tubby Raymond, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the Yankee Conference's Mid-Atlantic Division. Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where the Fightin' Blue Hens lost to the eventual national champion, Marshall, in the first round. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 1997 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 32nd-year head coach Tubby Raymond, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 12–2 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, placing second in the A-10's Mid-Atlantic Division. For the sixth time in seven sessions, Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where the Fightin' Blue Hens beat Hofstra in the first round and Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual national runner-up, McNeese State, in the semifinals. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2016 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Fightin' Blue Hens were led by fourth-year head coach Dave Brock for the first six games of the season, before he was fired on October 16, following a loss to William & Mary. Co-defensive coordinator Dennis Dottin-Carter was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Delaware finished the season with an overall record of 4–7 and a mark of 2–6 in conference play, placing tenth in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2017 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Danny Rocco, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2018 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Danny Rocco, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the CAA. Delaware received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, the Fightin' Blue Hens they lost in the first round to James Madison. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2019 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by third-year head coach Danny Rocco, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for ninth place in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. The stadium underwent renovations prior to the 2019 season.
The 2020 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the North Division of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Danny Rocco, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 7–1 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the CAA and CAA North Division titles. Delaware advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, the Fightin' Blue Hens beat Sacred Heart in the first round and Jacksonville State in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual national runner-up, South Dakota State, in the semifinals. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2021 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Danny Rocco in his fifth and final season as head coach, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for ninth place in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. Rocco was fired at the end of the season.