Saint Francis Cougars football

Last updated
Saint Francis Cougars football
First season1998
Head coach Kevin Donley
26th season, 234–68 (.775)
Stadium Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium
(capacity: 3,500)
Field surfaceSporturf
Location Fort Wayne, Indiana
Conference Mid-States Football Association
All-time record224–58 (.794)
Playoff appearances19
Playoff record33–17
Claimed national titles2 (NAIA)
Division titles13
Rivalries Marian (IN) (rivalry)

The Saint Francis Cougars football program represents the University of Saint Francis in college football. The team competes in the Mideast League (MEL) of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA), which is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Kevin Donley has served as head coach since the inception of the program in 1998. [1] Saint Francis plays its home game at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Contents

Under Donley, the Saint Francis won consecutive NAIA Football National Championship in 2016 and 2017. The Cougars have won the MSFA's Mideast League 13 times and have made 19 appearances in the NAIA playoffs.

Season-by-season record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs NAIA#
Saint Francis Cougars(Mid-States Football Association)(1998–present)
1998 Saint Francis2–81–57th (MEL)
1999 Saint Francis 8–36–01st (MEL)L NAIA First Round 12
2000 Saint Francis 10–26–01st (MEL)L NAIA Quarterfinal 6
2001 Saint Francis 9–25–1T–1st (MEL)L NAIA First Round 14
2002 Saint Francis 11–16–01st (MEL)L NAIA Quarterfinal 8
2003 Saint Francis 12–16–01st (MEL)L NAIA Semifinal 4
2004 Saint Francis 13–17–01st (MEL)L NAIA Championship 2
2005 Saint Francis 13–17–01st (MEL)L NAIA Championship 2
2006 Saint Francis 13–16–01st (MEL)L NAIA Championship 2
2007 Saint Francis 11–26–12nd (MEL)L NAIA Semifinal 4
2008 Saint Francis 12–16–01st (MEL)L NAIA Semifinal 4
2009 Saint Francis 7–35–2T–2nd (MEL)17
2010 Saint Francis 10–26–12nd (MEL)L NAIA Quarterfinal 5
2011 Saint Francis 9–33–23rd (MEL)L NAIA Quarterfinal 7
2012 Saint Francis 9–34–1T–1st (MEL)L NAIA Quarterfinal 6
2013 Saint Francis 9–35–11st (MEL)L NAIA Quarterfinal 6
2014 Saint Francis6–54–23rd (MEL)
2015 Saint Francis 11–16–01st (MEL)L NAIA Semifinal 4
2016 Saint Francis 13–15–12nd (MEL)W NAIA Championship 1
2017 Saint Francis 14–06–01st (MEL)W NAIA Championship 1
2018 Saint Francis 10–34–23rd (MEL)L NAIA Semifinal 3
2019 Saint Francis 7–34–2T–2nd (MEL)L NAIA First Round 11
2020 Saint Francis2–22–23rd (MEL)17
Saint Francis:221–52116–23
Total:221–52
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

Program statistics

StatisticSaint Francis[Opponents]
Games played271
Wins22051
Ties0
Wins in championship game appearances23
Home wins12328
Road wins9520
Neutral site wins23
Home regular season wins9615
Road regular season wins9119
Home playoff wins2713
Road playoff wins41
Neutral site playoff wins23
Most consecutive wins27(2016-2018)7 (1998)
Most consecutive regular season wins54(2001-2007)7 (1998)
Most consecutive playoff wins10(2016-2018)2 (2000-2001)
(2018-present)
Most consecutive home wins56(2002-2009)3 (1998)
Most consecutive road/neutral wins20(2015-2018)4 (1998)
Most points scored in a game by one team84(2000 - USF 84, Iowa Wesleyan 9)71 (1998 - Tri-State 71, USF 27)
Most points scored in a game by one team in a loss41 (1998 - Walsh 44, USF 41)42(2015 - USF 48, Taylor 42)
(2015 - USF 45, Marian 42)
Fewest points scored in a game by one team in a win12 (2004 - USF 12, Georgetown 7)7(2018 – Concordia 7, USF 3)
Fewest points scored in a regular season game by one team3 (2018 – Concordia 7, USF 3)0(Done 13 times,
most recently in 2017)
Fewest points scored in a playoff game by one team0(1999 - Georgetown 38, USF 0)
(2002 - Georgetown 24, USF 0)		3 (Done 5 times,
most recently in 2018)
Most points scored in a game by both teams98(1998 - Tri-State 71, USF 27)
(2002 - USF 77, Quincy 21)
(2007 - USF 69, Taylor 29)
Fewest points scored in a game by both teams10(2018 – Concordia 7, USF 3)
Largest margin of victory75(2000 - USF 84, Iowa Wesleyan 9)44 (1998 - Tri-State 71, USF 27)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-States Football Association</span>

The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition began in 1994. The MSFA is divided into two leagues, the Mideast and the Midwest.

William Kevin Donley is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a position he has held since April 1997. As of January 2024, Donley has completed 45 seasons as a head coach, in addition to the 1997 season which was devoted to establishing the football program at the University of Saint Francis. The Saint Francis Cougars began play the following year.

The Saint Francis Cougars are the athletic teams that represent the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Crossroads League for most of its sports since the 1994–95 academic year ; while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).

The 2015 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2015 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 18th year as the first head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished as the MSFA MEL champion and received an automatic bid to the NAIA playoffs.

The 2016 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2016 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 19th year as the head football coach at Saint Francis. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished 2nd in the MSFA MEL division and received an at-large bid to the NAIA playoffs.

The 2013 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2013 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 16th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished 1st in the MSFA MEL division and received an automatic bid to participate in the postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2011 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2012 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 14th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 3rd place in the MSFA MEL division, but they received an at-large bid to participate in the postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2010 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2010 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 13th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 2nd place in the MSFA MEL division, but they received an at-large bid to participate in the postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2009 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2009 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 12th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished tied for 2nd place in the MSFA MEL division; they missed the postseason NAIA playoffs for only second time in the team's history.

The 2008 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2008 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 11th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, so they received an automatic bid to the 2008 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2007 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2007 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 10th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 2nd place in the MSFA MEL division, but they received an at-large bid to the 2007 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2006 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2006 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 9th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, and they received an automatic bid to the 2006 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2005 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2005 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 8th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, and they received an automatic bid to the 2005 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2004 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2004 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 7th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, and they received an automatic bid to the 2004 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2003 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2003 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 6th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Cougar Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, and they received an automatic bid to the 2003 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2002 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2002 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 5th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Cougar Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, and they received an automatic bid to the 2002 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2001 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2001 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 4th year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Cougar Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in tie for 1st place in the MSFA MEL division. Both co-champions received invitations to the 2001 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2000 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 2000 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 3rd year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Cougar Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, receiving an automatic bid to the 2000 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 1999 Saint Francis Cougars football team represented the University of Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 1999 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Kevin Donley, who served his 2nd year as the first and only head coach in the history of Saint Francis football. The Cougars played their home games at Cougar Stadium and were members of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League (MEL). The Cougars finished in 1st place in the MSFA MEL division, receiving an automatic bid to the 1999 postseason NAIA playoffs.

The 2011 Saint Xavier Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Saint Xavier University as a member of the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) during the 2011 NAIA football season. In their 13th season under head coach Mike Feminis, the Cougars compiled a 14–1 record and won the NAIA national championship, defeating Carroll (Montana), 24–20, in the NAIA National Championship Game.

References

  1. ↑ Bansch, John (September 22, 1998). "St. Francis passes its initial tests by getting program off the ground". The Indianapolis Star . Indianapolis, Indiana. p. D6. Retrieved November 3, 2021– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
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