This is a list of seasons completed by the Western Kentucky college football program. The Hilltoppers represent the Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Conference USA. WKU plays its home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. [1]
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M. A. Leiper & Roy C. Manchester (Independent)(1913) | |||||||||
1913 | Leiper / Manchester | 1–0 | |||||||
Leiper / Manchester: | 1–0 | ||||||||
J. L. Arthur (Independent)(1914–1916) | |||||||||
1914 | J. L. Arthur | 1–2 | |||||||
1915 | J. L. Arthur | 1–4–2 | |||||||
1916 | J. L. Arthur | 3–2 | |||||||
J. L. Arthur: | 5–8–2 | ||||||||
1917 | No team | ||||||||
1918 | No team | ||||||||
1919 | No team | ||||||||
L. T. Smith (Independent)(1920–1921) | |||||||||
1920 | L. T. Smith | 0–1 | |||||||
1921 | L. T. Smith | 2–4–1 | |||||||
L. T. Smith: | 2–5–1 | ||||||||
Edgar Diddle (Independent)(1922–1925) | |||||||||
1922 | Edgar Diddle | 9–1 | |||||||
1923 | Edgar Diddle | 5–4 | |||||||
1924 | Edgar Diddle | 4–5 | |||||||
1925 | Edgar Diddle | 3–5–1 | |||||||
Edgar Diddle(Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1926–1928) | |||||||||
1926 | Edgar Diddle | 4–4–1 | 1–2–1 | 19th | |||||
1927 | Edgar Diddle | 5–4 | 2–4 | T–18th | |||||
1928 | Edgar Diddle | 8–1 | 5–1 | 3rd | |||||
Edgar Diddle: | 38–24–2 | 7–6–1 | |||||||
Carl Anderson (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1929) | |||||||||
1929 | Carl Anderson | 7–3 | 3–3 | T–16th | |||||
James Elam (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1930–1931) | |||||||||
1930 | James Elam | 8–1–1 | 6–1 | 6th | |||||
1931 | James Elam | 8–4 | 7–1 | 4th | |||||
James Elam: | 16–5–1 | 13–2 | |||||||
Ernest R. Miller (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1932) | |||||||||
1932 | Ernest R. Miller | 8–1 | 6–0 | 1st | |||||
Ernest R. Miller: | 8–1 | 6–0 | |||||||
Jesse Thomas (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1933) | |||||||||
1933 | Jesse Thomas | 6–2 | 5–1 | ||||||
Carl Anderson(Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1934–1937) | |||||||||
1934 | Carl Anderson | 4–2–2 | 4–1–1 | T–6th | |||||
1935 | Carl Anderson | 7–3 | 5–2 | 13th | |||||
1936 | Carl Anderson | 4–4 | 3–2 | T–14th | |||||
1937 | Carl Anderson | 7–1–1 | 3–0–1 | T–3rd | |||||
Carl Anderson: | 24–9–3 | 18–8–2 | |||||||
Gander Terry (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1934–1937) | |||||||||
1938 | Gander Terry | 7–2 | 4–1 | T–8th | |||||
1939 | Gander Terry | 7–1–1 | 5–1–1 | T–5th | |||||
1940 | Gander Terry | 7–1–1 | 4–1–1 | T–5th | |||||
1941 | Gander Terry | 4–5–1 | 3–1–1 | T–6th | |||||
Gander Terry: | 25–9–3 | 16–4–3 | |||||||
Arnold Winkenhofer (Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1942) | |||||||||
1942 | Arnold Winkenhofer | 3–4–1 | 2–0–1 | T–6th | |||||
Arnold Winkenhofer: | 3–4–1 | 2–0–1 | |||||||
1943 | No team | ||||||||
1944 | No team | ||||||||
1945 | No team | ||||||||
Jesse Thomas(Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1946–1947) | |||||||||
1946 | Jesse Thomas | 2–6 | 1–3 | ||||||
1947 | Jesse Thomas | 3–4–2 | 1–3 | ||||||
Jesse Thomas: | 11–12–2 | 7–7 | |||||||
Jack Clayton (Ohio Valley Conference)(1948–1956) | |||||||||
1948 | Jack Clayton | 5–4 | 2–3 | 5th | |||||
1949 | Jack Clayton | 5–4 | 2–3 | 6th | |||||
1950 | Jack Clayton | 6–2–2 | 3–1–2 | 2nd | |||||
1951 | Jack Clayton | 4–5 | 2–4 | 6th | |||||
1952 | Jack Clayton | 9–1 | 4–1 | T–1st | W Refrigerator | ||||
1953 | Jack Clayton | 6–4 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
1954 | Jack Clayton | 7–3 | 3–2 | T–2nd | |||||
1955 | Jack Clayton | 3–6 | 1–4 | 5th | |||||
1956 | Jack Clayton | 5–4 | 2–3 | T–3rd | |||||
Jack Clayton: | 50–33–2 | 21–24–2 | |||||||
Nick Denes (Ohio Valley Conference)(1957–1967) | |||||||||
1957 | Nick Denes | 5–3–1 | 1–3–1 | T–4th | |||||
1958 | Nick Denes | 4–5 | 2–4 | T–5th | |||||
1959 | Nick Denes | 5–4 | 3–3 | 4th | |||||
1960 | Nick Denes | 2–6–1 | 1–4–1 | T–6th | |||||
1961 | Nick Denes | 6–3 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
1962 | Nick Denes | 5–3 | 3–3 | 5th | |||||
1963 | Nick Denes | 10–0–1 | 7–0 | 1st | W Tangerine | 8 | |||
1964 | Nick Denes | 6–3–1 | 3–3–1 | T–3rd | |||||
1965 | Nick Denes | 2–6–2 | 1–5–1 | 7th | |||||
1966 | Nick Denes | 5–5 | 3–4 | 6th | |||||
1967 | Nick Denes | 7–1–1 | 5–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
Nick Denes: | 57–39–7 | 33–32–5 | |||||||
Jimmy Feix (Ohio Valley Conference)(1968–1981) | |||||||||
1968 | Jimmy Feix | 7–2–1 | 5–2 | T–2nd | 17 | 19 | |||
1969 | Jimmy Feix | 6–3–1 | 5–2 | 2nd | |||||
1970 | Jimmy Feix | 8–1–1 | 5–1–1 | 1st | 9 | 12 | |||
1971 | Jimmy Feix | 8–2 | 6–1 | 1st | 12 | 6 | |||
1972 | Jimmy Feix | 7–3 | 5–2 | 2nd | |||||
1973 | Jimmy Feix | 12–1 | 7–0 | 1st | W Grantland Rice (NCAA Division II Semifinal) L Camellia (NCAA Division II Championship) | 2 | 3 | ||
1974 | Jimmy Feix | 7–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
1975 | Jimmy Feix | 11–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | W Grantland Rice (NCAA Division II Semifinal) L Camellia (NCAA Division II Championship) | 3 | 3 | ||
1976 | Jimmy Feix | 4–5–1 | 3–4 | T–4th | |||||
1977 | Jimmy Feix | 1–8–1 | 1–5–1 | 8th | |||||
1978 | Jimmy Feix | 8–2 | 6–0 | 1st | T–4 | ||||
1979 | Jimmy Feix | 5–5 | 3–3 | 4th | |||||
1980 | Jimmy Feix | 9–1 | 6–1 | 1st | 5 | ||||
1981 | Jimmy Feix | 6–5 | 4–4 | T–4th | |||||
Jimmy Feix(Division I-AA independent)(1982–1983) | |||||||||
1982 | Jimmy Feix | 5–5 | |||||||
1983 | Jimmy Feix | 2–8–1 | |||||||
Jimmy Feix: | 106–56–6 | 68–28–2 | |||||||
Dave Roberts (Division I-AA independent)(1984–1988) | |||||||||
1984 | Dave Roberts | 2–9 | |||||||
1985 | Dave Roberts | 4–7 | |||||||
1986 | Dave Roberts | 4–6–1 | |||||||
1987 | Dave Roberts | 7–4 | L NCAA Division I-AA First Round | 11 | |||||
1988 | Dave Roberts | 9–4 | L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal | 13 | |||||
Dave Roberts: | 26–30–1 | ||||||||
Jack Harbaugh (Division I-AA independent)(1989–1998) | |||||||||
1989 | Jack Harbaugh | 6–5 | |||||||
1990 | Jack Harbaugh | 2–8 | |||||||
1991 | Jack Harbaugh | 3–8 | |||||||
1992 | Jack Harbaugh | 4–6 | |||||||
1993 | Jack Harbaugh | 8–3 | 19 | ||||||
1994 | Jack Harbaugh | 5–6 | |||||||
1995 | Jack Harbaugh | 2–8 | |||||||
1996 | Jack Harbaugh | 7–4 | |||||||
1997 | Jack Harbaugh | 10–2 | L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal | 5 | |||||
1998 | Jack Harbaugh | 7–4 | 19 | ||||||
Jack Harbaugh(Ohio Valley Conference)(1999–2000) | |||||||||
1999 | Jack Harbaugh | 6–5 | 4–3 | T–3rd | |||||
2000 | Jack Harbaugh | 11–2 | 7–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal | 5 | |||
Jack Harbaugh(Gateway Football Conference)(2001–2002) | |||||||||
2001 | Jack Harbaugh | 8–4 | 5–2 | T–2nd | L NCAA Division I-AA First Round | 12 | |||
2002 | Jack Harbaugh | 12–4 | 7–1 | T–1st | W NCAA Division I-AA Championship | 1 | |||
Jack Harbaugh: | 91–68 | 22–6 | |||||||
David Elson (Gateway Football Conference)(2003–2006) | |||||||||
2003 | David Elson | 9–4 | 5–2 | T–3rd | L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal | 7 | |||
2004 | David Elson | 9–3 | 6–1 | 2nd | L NCAA Division I-AA First Round | 11 | |||
2005 | David Elson | 6–5 | 4–3 | T–4th | |||||
2006 | David Elson | 6–5 | 4–3 | T–4th | |||||
David Elson(NCAA Division I FCS independent)(2007) | |||||||||
2007 | David Elson | 7–5 | |||||||
David Elson(NCAA Division I FBS independent)(2008) | |||||||||
2008 | David Elson | 2–10 | |||||||
David Elson(Sun Belt Conference)(2009) | |||||||||
2009 | David Elson | 0–12 | 0–8 | 9th | |||||
David Elson: | 39–43 | 19–17 | |||||||
Willie Taggart (Sun Belt Conference)(2010–2012) | |||||||||
2010 | Willie Taggart | 2–10 | 2–6 | 9th | |||||
2011 | Willie Taggart | 7–5 | 7–1 | 2nd | |||||
2012 | Willie Taggart | 7–6 [n 1] | 4–4 | 5th | L Little Caesars Pizza | ||||
Willie Taggart: | 16–20 | 13–11 | |||||||
Bobby Petrino (Sun Belt Conference)(2013) | |||||||||
2013 | Bobby Petrino | 8–4 | 4–3 | ||||||
Bobby Petrino: | 8–4 | 4–3 | |||||||
Jeff Brohm (Conference USA)(2014–2016) | |||||||||
2014 | Jeff Brohm | 8–5 | 4–4 | T–3rd (East) | W Bahamas | ||||
2015 | Jeff Brohm | 12–2 | 8–0 | 1st (East) | W Miami Beach | 24 | |||
2016 | Jeff Brohm | 11–3 [n 2] | 7–1 | T–1st (East) | W Boca Raton | ||||
Jeff Brohm: | 30–10 | 19–5 | |||||||
Mike Sanford Jr. (Conference USA)(2017–2018) | |||||||||
2017 | Mike Sanford Jr. | 6–7 | 4–4 | T–3rd (East) | L Cure | ||||
2018 | Mike Sanford Jr. | 3–9 | 2–6 | T–6th (East) | |||||
Mike Sanford Jr.: | 9–16 | 6–10 | |||||||
Tyson Helton (Conference USA)(2019–present) | |||||||||
2019 | Tyson Helton | 9–4 | 6–2 | T–2nd (East) | W First Responder | ||||
2020 | Tyson Helton | 5–7 | 4–3 | 3rd (East) | L LendingTree | ||||
2021 | Tyson Helton | 9–5 | 7–1 | 1st (East) | W Boca Raton | ||||
2022 | Tyson Helton | 9–5 | 6–2 | T–2nd | W New Orleans | ||||
2023 | Tyson Helton | 8–5 | 5–3 | 4th | W Famous Toastery | ||||
2024 | Tyson Helton | 8–6 | 6–2 | 2nd | L Boca Raton | ||||
Tyson Helton: | 48–32 | 34–13 | |||||||
Total: | 623–432–30(.588) | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a few decades earlier. It operates regional campuses in Glasgow, Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, and Owensboro. The main campus sits atop a hill overlooking the Barren River valley.
Jack Avon Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at Western Michigan University from 1982 to 1986 and Western Kentucky University from 1989 to 2002, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 116–95–3. In his final year at Western Kentucky, he led the 2002 Hilltoppers to an NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship title. In 2023, Harbaugh came out of retirement to become assistant head coach of the Michigan Wolverines under his son Jim and helped lead the team to win the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football program is a college football team that represents Western Kentucky University. The team competes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level and represents the university as a member of Conference USA in the Eastern division. The 2002 team was the FCS national champion. The program has 13 conference championships and 7 FBS-level bowl game victories. The Hilltoppers play their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky and the team's head football coach is Tyson Helton.
David Elson is an American football coach. He is the defensive analyst at Wake Forest University, a position he has held since 2023. Elson served as head football coach at Western Kentucky University (WKU) from 2003 to 2009. He oversaw the transition of Western Kentucky from a Football Championship Subdivision to a Football Bowl Subdivision program, the highest division in college football; in his final season, the Hilltoppers joined the Sun Belt Conference.
Willie Author Taggart is an American football coach who is the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He has held the head coach position at five NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision programs: Western Kentucky ; South Florida ; Oregon (2017); Florida State ; and Florida Atlantic. At all five schools, he was the first African-American to be hired as the head coach.
The Battle for the Red Belt is an American college football rivalry between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team of Western Kentucky University and the Murray State Racers football team of Murray State University. The rivalry began as an in-conference rivalry within the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), but both schools have since departed for other conferences. The Hilltoppers were the first to move, transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision and playing as an independent in the 2008 season before moving football to the Sun Belt Conference in 2009, followed by a move to Conference USA in 2014. The Racers, which remain in the Football Championship Subdivision to this day, played their final OVC season in 2022, and joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023. The rivalry has continued as a trophy game, although it is no longer played on an annual basis.
The 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the 16th edition of the game, was a post-season American college football bowl game that was held on December 26, 2012 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as part of the 2012–13 NCAA football bowl season.
The 2013 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first year head coach Bobby Petrino and played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium. They were a member of the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 8–4, 4–3 in Sun Belt play to finish in a four-way tie for second place. Despite being bowl eligible, they were not selected to play in a bowl game. This was their last season as a member of the Sun Belt as they moved to Conference USA in the 2014 season.
100 Miles of Hate is the unofficial nickname given to the American college football rivalry game between the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team of Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team of Western Kentucky University. Fans began to refer to the game as "100 Miles of Hate" when the rivalry resumed in 2007 after a 16-year hiatus.
The 2014 Bahamas Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game that was played December 24, 2014 at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau in the Bahamas. The first edition of the Bahamas Bowl featured the Central Michigan Chippewas of the Mid-American Conference against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers of Conference USA. It began at 12:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2014–15 bowl games that concluded the 2014 FBS football season. Sponsored by the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen fried chicken restaurant chain, the game was officially known as the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 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 Hilltoppers represent Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the NCAA's Conference USA (C-USA).
The 2016 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University (WKU) in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third year head coach Jeff Brohm. They finished the season 11–3, 7–1 in C-USA play to win a share of the East Division title with Old Dominion. Due to their head-to-head victory over Old Dominion, Western Kentucky represented the East Division in the Conference USA Championship Game where they defeated Louisiana Tech to be crowned C-USA champions. They were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl where they defeated Memphis. This team led the NCAA in Scoring Offense.
The 1973 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the inaugural 1973 NCAA Division II football season. The team came off an 7–3 record from the prior season and was led by coach Jimmy Feix. They finished the regular season undefeated and won the Ohio Valley Conference championship. The Hilltoppers made the initial NCAA Division II Football Championship, winning their first two playoff games, including a win over Grambling in the Grantland Rice Bowl, before falling in the championship game to Louisiana Tech in the Camellia Bowl. Their rankings in the final polls were UPI 2 and AP 3.
The 2016 Conference USA Championship Game was played on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and determined the 2016 football champion of Conference USA (C-USA). The game featured the West Division champion Louisiana Tech visiting the East Division champion Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (WKU), with the Hilltoppers winning 58–44. The game was broadcast nationally by ESPN for the 5th consecutive year. The title sponsor was Dynacraft BSC.
The 2016 Boca Raton Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game played on December 20, 2016, at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. The third annual edition of the Boca Raton Bowl was one of the 2016–17 bowl games concluding the 2016 FBS football season.
The 2017 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team (WKU) represented Western Kentucky University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by first-year head coach Mike Sanford Jr. The Hilltoppers finished the season 6–7, 4–4 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division. They received an invite to the Cure Bowl where they lost to Georgia State.
The 1963 Tangerine Bowl was an NCAA College Division game following the 1963 season, between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Coast Guard Bears. Western Kentucky quarterback Sharon Miller was named the game's most valuable player.
The 1975 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. The team came off an 7–3 record from the prior season and was led by coach Jimmy Feix. They claimed a share of the Ohio Valley Conference championship and returned to the NCAA Division II Football Championship for the second time in three years. One of the highlights of the season was a victory over NCAA Division I Louisville. The Hilltoppers won their first two playoff games, including a win over New Hampshire in the Grantland Rice Bowl, before falling in the championship game to Northern Michigan in the Camellia Bowl. They finished ranked 3rd in both the AP and UPI final polls.
The 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team (WKU) represented Western Kentucky University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at the Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by second-year head coach Tyson Helton.
The 2022 New Orleans Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 21, 2022, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The 22nd annual New Orleans Bowl, the game featured Western Kentucky from Conference USA (C-USA) and South Alabama from the Sun Belt Conference. The game began at 8:06 p.m. CST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season. Sponsored by freight shipping company R+L Carriers, the game was officially known as the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.