The first game in school history was played against a club team from West Virginia University, in which the Yellow Jackets won 10-0. On December 4, 1895, the first home game in school history was played at Greene County Fair Grounds. The game was described as a "a pig-fight in a hog-wallow."[5]
After resuming play in 1921 following a four-year hiatus due to World War I, coach Frank N. Wolf recorded his first victory, ultimately becoming the school's all-time winningest coach, compiling a record of 65–63–10.[6][7] Waynesburg captured its first Tri-State Conference title in 1924 and went on to win additional titles in 1932 and 1934 before leaving the conference in 1937.[8]In 1939, the team played a pivotal role in television history by participating in the first televised football game, the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game, during which Waynesburg’s Bobby Brooks scored the first-ever televised touchdown.[9] The program resumed again after World War II in 1946 and continued to grow, joining the NAIA’s West Penn Conference in 1958. The 1960s saw success, highlighted by a perfect 11-0 season in 1966 that culminated in an NAIA National Championship under the direction of head coach Carl DePasqua.[10]
Through the 1980s and 1990s, Waynesburg achieved several milestones, including its 300th victory in 1983.[14] The 1983 team was populated by NAIA All-American running back Otto Birkhead, team MVP Kevin Jozwiakowski, and veteran defensive back Steven Burchianti, whom the Indiana Inquirer described as "the best of the group."[15][16][17][18][19] The signature win of the 1983 season was a 23-6 victory over the Duquesne Dukes, highlighted by Burchianti’s standout performance with a fumble recovery and two interceptions.[20]
The team joined the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in 1990 and captured its first PAC title in 1998.[21] Major facility upgrades occurred in the late 1990s, including the construction of a new field house honoring Frank N. Wolf and the 4,000-seat John F. "Jack" Wiley Stadium.[22]
21st century
The early 2000s marked a period of record-breaking performances, with quarterback Jeff Dumm setting multiple school records and leading the team to its first NCAA Division III Playoff appearance in 2003.[23] Subsequent years featured more postseason appearances and individual accolades, including running back Robert Heller’s NCAA freshman rushing record and defensive end Mike Czerwien’s all-division NCAA career sacks record.[24]
The team has had 21 head coaches since its first recorded football game in 1895. The current coach is Cornelius Coleman who first took the position for the 2022 season.[25]
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