The Humboldt State Lumberjacks college football team represent California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, formerly Humboldt State University. The Lumberjacks competed as an independent until joining the Far Western Conference (FWC) in 1946. The conference was renamed to the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) in 1983, and they remained in the NCAC until the conference folded after the 1996 season. They then competed in the NAIA's Columbia Football Association (CFA) from 1997 to 2000. They joined the NCAA Division II's Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) in 2001 and have played there ever since.
The program has had 15 head coaches in its 88 seasons of existence. [1]
| No. | Coach | Tenure | Seasons | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct. | Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bert Smith | 1924 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 | Cy Falkenberg | 1925 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 0 |
| 3 | Fred Telonicher | 1927–1934 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 2 | .273 | 0 |
| 4 | Charles F. Erb | 1935–1937 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 1 | .705 | 0 |
| 5 | Herbert L. Hart | 1938–1940 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 0 | .600 | 0 |
| 6 | Earl Hoos | 1941 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | .313 | 0 |
| 7 | Joseph Forbes | 1946–1947 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 1 | .583 | 0 |
| 8 | Lou Tsoutsouvas | 1948 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 0 |
| 9 | Ted Staffler | 1949–1950 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | .071 | 0 |
| 10 | Phil Sarboe | 1951–1965 | 15 | 104 | 37 | 5 | .729 | 1 |
| 11 | Bud Van Deren | 1966–1985 | 20 | 98 | 101 | 4 | .493 | 1 |
| 12 | Mike Dolby | 1986–1990 [note 1] | 5 | 18 | 33 | 2 | .358 | 0 |
| 13 | Fred Whitmire | 1991–1999 [note 2] | 9 | 43 | 49 | 2 | .468 | 0 |
| 14 | Doug Adkins | 2000–2007 | 8 | 33 | 51 | 0 | .393 | 0 |
| 15 | Rob Smith | 2008–2017 | 10 | 63 | 44 | 0 | .589 | 0 |
| Totals | 1924–present | 89 | 414 | 382 | 21 | .520 | 2 |
The Humboldt State Lumberjacks football program represented Humboldt State University, known since January 2022 as California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in college football and played its home games at the Redwood Bowl in Arcata, California. Humboldt State was a football member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. Through the 2017 season, the Lumberjacks played 89 seasons and had an all-time record of 402–395–21 (.504).
The 1996 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1996 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1996.
The 1995 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1995 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1995.
The 1997 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1997 NAIA football season. Humboldt State competed in the NAIA Columbia Football Association for the first time in 1997. They had previously been a member of the NCAA Division II Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC).
The 1994 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1994 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1994.
The 1993 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1993 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1993.
The 1992 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1992 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1992.
The 1991 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1991 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1991.
The 1990 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1990 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1990.
The 1989 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1989 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1989.
The 1988 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1988 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1988.
The 1987 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1987 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1987.
The 1985 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1985 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1985.
The 1984 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1984 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1984.
The 1983 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1983 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Northern California Athletic Conference in 1983. This was a new name for the conference, as it had been called the Far Western Conference (FWC) since it was started in 1925.
The 1982 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University—now known as California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt—as a member of the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) during the 1982 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 17th-year head coach Bud Van Deren, Humboldt State compiled an overall record of 3–7 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, tying for fifth place in the NCAC. The team was outscored by its opponents 191 to 131 for the season. The Lumberjacks played home games at the Redwood Bowl in Arcata, California.
The 1981 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1981 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC).
The 1980 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC).
The 1979 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC).
The 2011 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 2011 NCAA Division II football season. Humboldt State competed in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).