The University of West Florida is a public university in Pensacola, Florida, United States. Established in 1963 as a member institution of the State University System of Florida, the University of West Florida is a comprehensive research university without faculties of law or medicine, a designated space-grant institution, and sits on the third largest campus in the State University System, at 1,600 acres (650 ha). The university's mascot is Argie the Argonaut and its logo is the chambered nautilus.
Chris Hatcher is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Samford University, a position he has held since 2014. Hatcher served as the head football coach at Valdosta State University from 2000 to 2006, Georgia Southern University from 2007 to 2009, and Murray State University from 2010 to 2014. His Valdosta State Blazers won the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2004. Hatcher played college football as a quarterback at Valdosta State from 1991 to 1994.
The North Alabama Lions football program represents the University of North Alabama (UNA) in college football as the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The conference, which plays its first season in 2023, is a merger of the football leagues of UNA's primary home of the ASUN Conference and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). UNA had played the 2022 season in the ASUN, and before that had played football in the Big South Conference for three seasons. UNA plays its home games at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama. The team's head coach is Brent Dearmon. UNA was an NCAA Division II from member from 1972 to 2017.
The Valdosta State football team represents Valdosta State University in football. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. The Blazers play in Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia, which has a capacity of 11,249. The stadium is also the home of the historical Valdosta High School Wildcats. The Blazers have won a total of four Division II National Championship titles.
Rob Ambrose is an American college football coach. From 2009 to 2022, he was head coach of the Towson Tigers football team of Towson University. Ambrose was formerly the offensive coordinator of the UConn Huskies before being announced as Towson's head coach in December 2008. Ambrose played wide receiver for Towson in the early 1990s. Ambrose was selected as the Top FCS Coach for the 2011 season. In 2013, Towson advanced to the FCS National Championship Game for the first time in school history. Ambrose played his high school ball at Maryland's Middletown High School.
The UNC Pembroke Braves football team represents the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in college football, competing in the Mountain East Conference. Pembroke plays its home games at the 4,000 seat Grace P. Johnson Stadium at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Field, which is located on-campus in Pembroke, North Carolina. Although only fielding a modern team since the 2007 season, Pembroke previously fielded teams between the 1946 and 1950 seasons as Pembroke State.
David Dean is an American college football coach and former player. He was the head football coach for the University of West Georgia from 2017 to 2023. Dean served as the head football coach at Valdosta State University from 2007 to 2015, compiling a record of 79–27 in nine seasons. His team won the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2007 and in 2012.
The Towson Tigers football team represents Towson University in the sport of American football. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Tigers are currently coached by Pete Shinnick. Their home games are played at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team represents Coastal Carolina University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Chanticleers are members of the Sun Belt Conference, fielding its teams at the FBS level since 2017. The Chanticleers play their home games at James C. Benton Field at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.
The Azusa Pacific Cougars football program was a college football team that represented Azusa Pacific University. From 2012 to 2020, the team was a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference of NCAA Division II. Prior to the 2012 season, the Cougars had been an independent program in the NAIA. The Cougars had 10 head coaches since their first recorded football game in 1965. Azusa Pacific University decided to end its football program in December 2020 due to financial restructuring. The most famous player to play for the Cougars was Christian Okoye.
Victor Santa Cruz is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for JSerra Catholic High School, a position he has held since 2023. He was the defensive ends coach at Hawaii in 2021. Prior to that, he was the head football coach at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California from 2006 to 2019.
Mark Speir is an American football coach. He is the senior assistant to the head coach at Appalachian State University. Speir served as the head football coach at Western Carolina University from 2012 to 2021, compiling record of 33–68. He was released from his duties on April 9, 2021. Speir previously served as an assistant coach at Western Carolina, Presbyterian College, Elon University, University of Louisville, and the University of Cincinnati.
The 2019 West Florida Argonauts football team represented the University of West Florida as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Pete Shinnick. The Argonauts played their home games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Argonauts won the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Championship by defeating Minnesota State, 48–40 in the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game.
The 2021 West Florida Argonauts football team represented the University of West Florida as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Pete Shinnick. The Argonauts played their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field in Pensacola, Florida.
The 2019 Valdosta State Blazers football team represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by first-year head coach Gary Goff. The Blazers played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia.
Rodney Coates is an American football wide receiver. He played college football at West Florida where he won the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2019.
The 2022 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 31 and ended on December 17 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Ferris State defeated Colorado Mines, 41–14, for its second consecutive championship.
The 2022 Gulf South Conference football season was the season of college football played by the eight member schools of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season.
Kaleb Nobles is an American football coach. He is the head football coach for the University of West Florida, a position he has held since 2023.
Rudy Carlton is an American football coach. He is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for JSerra Catholic High School; a position he has since 2023. He previously coached for Azusa Pacific, including a stint as the head coach in 2020 prior to the university cutting football. He also coached at West Florida. He played college football for Azusa Pacific as a quarterback and professionally for the Texas Copperheads and Boise Burn of af2.
