Western Illinois Leathernecks football

Intercollegiate American football team

Western Illinois Leathernecks football

| | 2024 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

|

First season| 1902; 123 years ago
Athletic director| Paul Bubb
Head coach| Joe Davis
1st season, 4–8 (.333)
Stadium| Hanson Field
(capacity: 16,368)
Year built| 1950
Field surface| Matrix Turf
Location| Macomb, Illinois
NCAA division| Division I FCS
Conference| Big South–OVC
All-time record| 512-444-38 (.534)
Bowl record| 2-1 (.667)
Playoff appearances| 1 (NCAA Division II)
1973
11 (NCAA Division I)
1988, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2015, 2017
Playoff record| 0–1 (NCAA Division II)
7–11 (NCAA Division I)
Conference titles| 13
1939, 1942, 1949, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1981, 1988, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002
Colors| Purple and gold[1]

Fight song| We're Marching On
Mascot| Colonel Rock (Live Bulldog), Rocky (Costumed Bulldog)
Marching band| Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks
Outfitter| Adidas
Website| goleathernecks.com
Western Illinois Leathernecks

The Western Illinois Leathernecks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Western Illinois University located in Macomb, Illinois.[2][3] The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). They are members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), and play their games as part of the Big South–OVC Football Association, which combines teams from the Ohio Valley and Big South conferences. The team plays its home games at the 16,368 seat Hanson Field.

## History

[edit]

See also: List of Western Illinois Leathernecks in the NFL draft

Western Illinois had an unofficial football team in 1902, the year the school was established. The team played four games against regional high schools and the Western Illinois Normal & Business Institute going 2–2. In 1903, the school formed an athletic association for the fall football season, which is considered the official beginning of Western Illinois football by the school.[4]

The team adopted its nickname in 1927 when coach Ray Hanson, a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps, asked the U.S. Navy for permission to use the Corps' Fighting Leathernecks nickname and logo for his team. Western Illinois is the only college which officially takes its nickname from a branch of the U.S. military.[5]

From 2008 through 2023, the Leathernecks were members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The university announced on May 12, 2023 that its football program would remain in the MVFC through the autumn of 2023 before joining the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2024. The remainder of the Leathernecks' athletic programs transitioned to the OVC one year prior, on July 1, 2023.[6]

## Conference affiliations

[edit]

Years  | Conference  | Classification

|
|

1902–1913  | Independent  |
1914–1949  | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic |
1950–1969  | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic | NCAA College Division
1970–1972  | Independent
1973–1977  | Independent | Division II
1978–1980  | Mid-Continent
1981–1984  | Division I-AA
1985–2005  | Gateway Football
2006–2007  | Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
2008–2023  | Missouri Valley Football
2024–future  | Ohio Valley

## Championships

[edit]

### Conference championships

[edit]

Years  | Conference  | Overall Record  | Conference Record

|
|
|

1939 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 5–1–1 | 2–0–1
1942 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 5–0–2 | 3–0–1
1949 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 9–1–0 | 4–0
1958 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 6–1–1 | 5–1
1959 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 9–0–0 | 6–0
1964† | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 6–3–0 | 3–1
1969 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 8–2–0 | 3–0
1981† | Mid-Continent | 5–6 | 2–1
1988 | Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference | 10–2–0 | 6–0
1997 | Gateway Football Conference | 8–3 | 4–1
1998 | Gateway Football Conference | 11–2 | 6–0
2000 | Gateway Football Conference | 9–3 | 5–1
2002† | Gateway Football Conference | 11–2 | 6–1

† Co-championship

## Playoffs and bowls

[edit]

### Playoffs

[edit]

Season  | Result  | Classification  |

|
|
|

1973 | First Round | NCAA Division II Playoffs |
1988 | First Round | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs |
1991 | First Round | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs |
1996 | First Round | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs |
1997 | Quarterfinals | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs | (Pecan Bowl)
1998 | Semifinals | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs | (Pecan Bowl)
2000 | First Round | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs |
2002 | Quarterfinals | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs | (Pecan Bowl)
2003 | Quarterfinals | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs | (Pecan Bowl)
2010 | Second Round | NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs |
2015 | Second Round | NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs |
2017 | First Round | NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs |

*Note: Since 1981, the NCAA Division I-AA/Division I FCS Playoffs Regional Championships were commonly referred to as the Boardwalk Bowl (East Region Championship), Pecan Bowl (Midwest Region Championship), Grantland Rice Bowl (South Region Championship), and Camellia Bowl (West Region Championship).

### Bowl games

[edit]

Season  | Bowl  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

1949 | Corn Bowl | Wheaton | W 13–0
1953 | Corn Bowl | Iowa Wesleyan | W 32–0
1955 | Corn Bowl | Luther | L 20–24

## Head coaches

[edit]

Years  | Name

|

1902–1903  | Unknown
1904  | L. H. Laughlin
1905  | A. Laughlin
1906, 1910  | Oliver Morton Dickerson
1907–1908  | Charles A. Barnett
1909  | Francis Taft
1911  | Albert Walrath
1912–1913  | Unknown
1914  | Edward S. Dowell
1915  | Unknown
1916–1917, 1919  | Erskine Jay
1918  | No team
1920–1921  | W. A. Cleveland
1922–1925  | Howard Hawkes
1926–1941  | Ray Hanson
1942–1943  | Wix Garner
1944  | Bob Barnwell
1945–1947  | Wix Garner
1948  | Harold Ave
1949–1953  | Vince DiFrancesca
1954–1956  | Wes Stevens
1957–1959  | Lou Saban
1960–1968  | Art Dufelmeier
1969–1973  | Darrell Mudra
1974–1975  | Brodie Westen
1976–1978  | Bill Shanahan
1979–1982  | Pete Rodriguez
1983–1989  | Bruce Craddock
1990–1998  | Randy Ball
1999–2009  | Don Patterson
2008–2012†  | Mark Hendrickson
2013–2015  | Bob Nielson
2016–2017  | Charlie Fisher
2018–2021  | Jared Elliott
2022–2023  | Myers Hendrickson

† Acting head coach first seven games of 2008 season and last eight games of 2009 season.

## Season records

[edit]

Year  | Overall record  | Conference record  | Standing (Total teams)

|
|
|

1903 | 0–3 | – | –
1904 | 5–2 | – | –
1905 | 4–2 | – | –
1906 | 1–4 | – | –
1907 | 2–3 | – | –
1908 | 2–3–1 | – | –
1909 | 2–3 | – | –
1910 | 4–1–1 | – | –
1911 | 4–3 | – | –
1912 | 4–3 | – | –
1913 | 5–3 | – | –
1914 | 3–2–1 | 0–1 | T-14th (15)
1915 | 1–5 | 0–4 | T-16th (28)
1916 | 1–7–1 | 0–5 | T-18th (19)
1917 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 13th (18)
1918 | No games played | N/A | N/A
1919 | 5–2 | 1–2 | 16th (19)
1920 | 0–3–1 | 0–2–1 | T-17th (21)
1921 | 3–3–1 | 1–2 | T-16th (23)
1922 | 6–2 | 2–1 | T-6th (23)
1923 | 1–6–1 | 1–4–1 | 20th (23)
1924 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 8th (22)
1925 | 4–3–1 | 4–3–1 | 9th (22)
1926 | 4–3–1 | 4–3 | 8th (19)
1927 | 6–3–1 | 4–3–1 | 9th (16)
1928 | 2–3–3 | 2–3–2 | 14th (22)
1929 | 3–5[Note A] | 2–5 | 18th (23)
1930 | 4–4 | 3–4 | 15th (22)
1931 | 2–6 | 2–4 | 18th (22)
1932 | 4–2–1 | 4–2–1 | 7th (21)
1933 | 3–5 | 2–4 | 16th (21)
1934 | 5–3 | 4–2 | T-6th (20)
1935 | 2–6 | 1–6 | 17th (20)
1936 | 3–2–2 | 3–2–1 | T-7th (21)
1937 | 3–4–1 | 3–1–1 | 6th (21)
1938 | 6–2 | 2–1 | 4th (8)
1939 | 5–1–1 | 2–0–1 | 1st (5)
1940 | 1–6–1 | 0–3–1 | 4th (5)
1941 | 3–4–1 | 1–2–1 | 4th (5)
1942 | 5–0–2 | 3–0–1 | 1st (5)
1943 | 1–6 | 0–4 | 4th (5)
1944 | 0–8 | 0–4 | 4th (5)
1945 | 1–5–1 | 0–3–1 | T-3rd (5)
1946 | 2–6 | 0–4 | 4th (5)
1947 | 4–4–1 | 0–4 | 4th (5)
1948 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 3rd (5)
1949 | 9–1 | 4–0 | 1st (5)
1950 | 7–1 | 4–1 | 2nd (7)
1951 | 7–1–1 | 4–1–1 | 2nd (7)
1952 | 7–2 | 5–1 | 2nd (7)
1953 | 8–2 | 5–1 | 2nd (7)
1954 | 6–1–3 | 3–1–2 | 3rd (7)
1955 | 5–4–1 | 2–3–1 | T-4th (7)
1956 | 6–3 | 4–2 | 2nd (7)
1957 | 5–4 | 4–2 | T-2nd (7)
1958 | 6–1–1 | 5–1 | 1st (7)
1959 | 9–0 | 6–0 | 1st (7)
1960 | 6–2 | 5–1 | 2nd (7)
1961 | 5–3 | 4–2 | T-2nd (7)
1962 | 5–3 | 2–2 | 3rd (5)
1963 | 6–3 | 3–1 | 2nd (5)
1964 | 6–3 | 3–1 | T-1st (5)
1965 | 4–5 | 2–2 | 3rd (5)
1966 | 1–7–1 | 1–2 | 3rd (4)
1967 | 2–6 | 1–2 | T-3rd (4)
1968 | 2–7–1 | 1–2 | T-3rd (4)
1969 | 8–2 | 3–0 | 1st (4)
1970 | 7–3 | – | –
1971 | 8–2 | – | –
1972 | 9–2 | – | –
1973 | 7–4 | – | –
1974 | 7–3 | – | –
1975 | 5–4–1 | – | –
1976 | 7–3 | – | –
1977 | 3–7 | – | –
1978 | 3–6–1 | 1–3–1 | T-4th (6)
1979 | 3–8 | 1–4 | 5th (6)
1980 | 4–6 | 0–4 | 5th (5)
1981 | 5–6 | 2–1 | 2nd (4)
1982 | 2–8 | 0–3 | 4th (4)
1983 | 3–8 | 0–3 | 4th (4)
1984 | 6–4–1 | 0–2–1 | 4th (4)
1985 | 6–5 | 2–3 | 3rd (6)
1986 | 6–5 | 2–4 | 5th (7)
1987 | 7–4 | 5–1 | 2nd (7)
1988 | 10–2 | 6–0 | 1st (7)
1989 | 4–7 | 1–5 | 6th (7)
1990 | 3–8 | 3–3 | 5th (7)
1991 | 7–4–1 | 4–2 | 3rd (7)
1992 | 7–4 | 4–2 | 2nd (7)
1993 | 4–7 | 4–2 | 3rd (7)
1994 | 8–3 | 4–2 | 2nd (7)
1995 | 4–7 | 2–4 | 6th (7)
1996 | 9–3 | 3–2 | 2nd (6)
1997 | 11–2 | 6–0 | 1st (7)
1998 | 11–3 | 5–1 | 1st (7)
1999 | 7–4 | 2–4 | 4th (7)
2000 | 9–3 | 5–1 | 1st (7)
2001 | 5–5 | 4–3 | 4th (8)
2002 | 11–2 | 6–1 | 1st (8)
2003 | 9–4 | 5–2 | 3rd (8)
2004 | 4–7 | 2–5 | 5th (8)
2005 | 5–6 | 3–4 | 5th (8)
2006 | 5–6 | 2–5 | 6th (8)
2007 | 6–5 | 3–3 | 4th (7)
2008 | 6–5 | 4–4 | 4th (9)
2009 | 1–10 | 0–8 | 9th (9)
2010 | 8–5 | 5–3 | 2nd (9)
2011 | 2–9 | 1–7 | 9th (9)
2012 | 3–8 | 1–7 | 9th (10)
2013 | 4–8 | 2–6 | 9th (10)
2014 | 5–7 | 3–5 | 8th (10)
2015 | 7–6 | 5–3 | 5th (10)
2016 | 6–6 | 4–4 | 6th (10)
2017 | 8–4 | 5–3 | 4th (10)
2018 | 5–6 | 4–4 | 5th (10)
2019 | 1–11 | 1–7 | 10th (10)
2020 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 9th (10)
2021 | 2–9 | 2–6 | 11th (11)
2022 | 0–11 | 0–8 | 11th (11)
2023 | 0–11 | 0–8 | 11th (11)
2024 | 4–8 | 3–6 | 6th (9)

^A. Adjusted record is 0–8 (3 wins vacated). After the season Western was forced to vacate their wins due to an ineligible player.

[7] [8]

## Individual accomplishments

[edit]

### Award winners

[edit]

* Walter Payton Award finalists

Paul Singer – 1988 . . . 2nd
Aaron Stecker – 1997...2nd
Charles Tharp – 2000...8th
Russ Michna – 2003...6th
Herb Donaldson – 2007...13th
Herb Donaldson – 2008...3rd

* Buck Buchanan Award

James Milton – 1998
Edgerton Hartwell – 2000
* Buck Buchanan Award finalists

Cyron Brown – 1997...3rd
Edgerton Hartwell – 1999...5th
Lee Russell – 2002...6th
Lee Russell – 2003...5th
Jason Williams – 2008...4th
Kyle Glazier – 2010...T-2nd
Brett Taylor – 2016...7th
Brett Taylor – 2017...2nd
Darius Joiner – 2021...6th

* Eddie Robinson Award finalists

Randy Ball – 1997...6th
Randy Ball – 1998...5th
Don Patterson – 2000...13th
Don Patterson – 2002...3rd
Mark Hendrickson – 2010...2nd

### College Football Hall of Fame members

[edit]

Name  | Position  | Years  | Inducted  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Darrell Mudra | Coach | 1969–1973 | 2000 | [9]

## Future non-conference opponents

[edit]

Announced schedules as of December 9, 2022.[10]

2023  | 2024  | 2025  | 2026  | 2027  | 2028

|
|
|
|
|

at New Mexico State | at Northern Illinois | Eastern Kentucky | at Wisconsin | at Oklahoma State | at Purdue
Lindenwood | UT Martin | at Eastern Washington | at Lindenwood |  |
at Southern Utah | at Eastern Kentucky |  |  |  |
| at Illinois State |  |  |  |

## Notable former players

[edit]

### Notable alumni

[edit]

* Jaelon Acklin
* Don Beebe
* David Bowens
* Fabien Bownes
* Sam Clemons
* Bryan Cox
* Booker Edgerson
* Larry Garron
* Don Greco
* Rodney Harrison

* Edgerton Hartwell
* Frisman Jackson
* Leroy Jackson
* William James
* Rob Lazeo
* Lance Lenoir
* Lamar McGriggs
* Tyler Glende
* Russ Michna
* Red Miller
* Dennis Morgan

* J. R. Niklos
* Khalen Saunders
* Mike Scifres
* Rich Seubert
* Paul Singer
* Aaron Stecker
* John Teerlinck
* Marco Thomas
* Mike Wagner
* Jason Williams
* Frank Winters

|
|

## See also

[edit]

* Western Illinois Leathernecks
* List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Western Illinois Leathernecks Athletics 2017–18 Branding & Style Guidelines (PDF). July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
2. ^ "Western Illinois Athletics Leathernecks Football". goleathernecks.com. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
3. ^ "Western Illinois Leathernecks College Football Clubhouse". ESPN. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
4. ^ "Western Illinois Football Record Book" (PDF). Western Illinois University Athletics. p. 66. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
5. ^ "The Leatherneck Nickname". Western Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
6. ^ "Leatherneck Athletics Moving to Ohio Valley Conference for All Sports," Western Illinois University Athletics, Friday, May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
7. ^ "Missouri Valley Football Conference Records" (PDF). Missouri Valley Football Conference. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
8. ^ "Western Illinois Football Record Book" (PDF). goleathernecks.com. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
9. ^ "Darrell Mudra (2000) – Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation.
10. ^ "Western Illinois Leathernecks Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Western Illinois Leathernecks football

Venues|

* Hanson Field (1950–present)

Culture & lore|

* Colonel Rock
* Rocky
* "We're Marching On"
* WIU Marching Leathernecks

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Western Illinois University

Located in Macomb, Illinois

Campus|

* Sherman Hall

Athletics|

* Sports: Western Illinois Leathernecks
* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football

* Venues: Alfred D. Boyer Stadium
* Brophy Courts
* Hanson Field
* Harry Mussatto Golf Course
* MacKenzie Alumni Field
* Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium
* Spring Lake Course
* Western Hall

* Traditions: Western Illinois Marching Leathernecks

Media|

* WIUM
* WIUS
* WIUW

People|

* List of Western Illinois University people

* Founded: 1899

* v
* t
* e

Ohio Valley Conference football

Teams|

* Eastern Illinois Panthers
* Lindenwood Lions
* Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
* Tennessee State Tigers
* Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
* UT Martin Skyhawks
* Western Illinois Leathernecks

Championships & awards|

* Conference champions
* All-time standings

Related links|

* Big South–OVC Football Association

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