Southern Illinois Salukis football

The Southern Illinois Salukis football program represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in college football. The Salukis are a member of the NCAA and compete at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level (formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA). The Salukis are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and play in Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois, which has a seating capacity of 15,000.

Southern Illinois Salukis football
2024 Southern Illinois Salukis football team
First season	1913; 112 years ago (1913)
Head coach	Nick Hill 9th season, 48–56 (.462)
Stadium	Saluki Stadium (capacity: 15,000)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Carbondale, Illinois
NCAA division	Division I FCS
Conference	Missouri Valley
All-time record	412–477–32 (.465)
Claimed national titles	1 (1983)
Conference titles	8
Colors	Maroon and white[1]
Website	SIU Salukis Football

The Salukis are coached by Nick Hill,^[2] who was the starting quarterback for the Salukis in 2006 and 2007.

History

The first official season of Southern Illinois football took place in 1913. Their first game was a win against Anna High School.^[3][4]

In 1983, the Salukis began the year ranked 8th in the NCAA Division I-AA rankings. They finished the regular season ranked #1 with a record of 10–1. In their three playoff games, they outscored their opponents by an average of 23 points. They defeated Western Carolina 43–7 in the National Championship Game to finish the year with a record of 13–1 and to be crowned national champtions.

In 2006, the Salukis defeated Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, 35–28,^[5] becoming the first Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) school to win against a Big Ten Conference member.^[6] In 2007, the Salukis were victorious against Northern Illinois University. This marked the second consecutive year that SIU had beaten an FBS program.^[7]

In the 2000s, SIU set then-MVFC records with 99 consecutive weeks ranked in the top-25 and 14-straight MVFC wins.^[8]

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1913–1924, 1962–1976)
• Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1925–1961)
• Missouri Valley Conference (1977–1984)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference (1985–present) (known as the Gateway Football Conference until June 2008)

Postseason games

The Salukis have appeared in two bowl games, compiling a 2–0 record.

Bowl games

Season	Bowl	Opponent	Result
1947	Corn Bowl	North Central	W 21–0
1949	Shrine Bowl	Indiana State	W 21–0

Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

The Salukis have appeared in 17 playoff games in I-AA/FCS tournaments, compiling a record of 11–10. They won the I-AA national championship in 1983.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1983	Quarterfinals	Indiana State	W 23–7
	Semifinals	Nevada	W 23–7
	National Championship Game	Western Carolina	W 43–7
2003	First Round	Delaware	L 7–48
2004	First Round	Eastern Washington	L 31–35
2005	First Round	Eastern Illinois	W 21–6
	Quarterfinals	Appalachian State	L 24–38
2006	First Round	UT Martin	W 36–30
	Quarterfinals	Montana	L 3–20
2007	First Round	Eastern Illinois	W 30–11
	Quarterfinals	UMass	W 34–27
	Semifinals	Delaware	L 17–20
2008	First Round	New Hampshire	L 20–29
2009	First Round	Eastern Illinois	W 48–7
	Quarterfinals	William & Mary	L 3–24
2020	First Round	Weber State	W 34–31
	Quarterfinals	#1 South Dakota State	L 26–31
2021	First Round	South Dakota	W 22–10
	Second Round	#2 North Dakota State	L 7–38
2023	First Round	Nicholls	W 35–0
	Second Round	#4 Idaho	L 17–20 OT

Championships

Conference championships

• 1947 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
• 1960 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Champions
• 1961 – Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
• 2003 – Gateway Football Conference co-champions
• 2004 – Gateway Football Conference Champions
• 2005 – Gateway Football Conference Co-Champions
• 2008 – Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champions
• 2009 – Missouri Valley Football Conference Champions

National championships

• 1983 – NCAA Division I-AA Champions, 43–7 win over Western Carolina

Players

Salukis in the NFL

SIU has had 28 players drafted in the NFL Draft, including four since 2010. In total, 36 Saluki football players have gone on to play in the NFL. Some notable Salukis in the NFL are listed below.

• Kenneth Boatright – Dallas Cowboys, DE (2013–2015)
• Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants, RB (2005–2013)
• Bart Scott – Baltimore Ravens & New York Jets, LB (2002–2012)
• Carl Mauck – San Diego Chargers, OL (1969–1981, coach 1982–2007)
• Damon Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars, TE (1997–2001)
• Deji Karim – Houston Texans, RB (2010–2014)
• Houston Antwine – Houston OIlers, DT (1961–1972)
• Jayson DiManche – Cincinnati Bengals, LB (2013–2017)
• Jewel Hampton – San Francisco 49ers, RB (2012–2016)
• Jim Hart – St. Louis Cardinals, QB (1966–1984)
• Kevin House – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR (1980–1987)
• MyCole Pruitt – Tennessee Titans, TE (2015–present)
• Sebron Spivey – Dallas Cowboys, WR (1987)
• Amos Bullocks – Dallas Cowboys, RB (1962–1964)
• Ray Agnew III – Cleveland Browns, FB (2014–2015)
• Terry Taylor – Seattle Seahawks, DB (1984–1995)
• Tom Baugh – Kansas City Chiefs, OL (1986–1989)
• Yonel Jourdain – Buffalo Bills, KR, RB (1994–1997)
• Korey Lindsey – Indianapolis Colts & Dallas Cowboys, CB (2012, 2014)
• Chase Allen – Miami Dolphins, LB (2017–present)
• Jeremy Chinn – Carolina Panthers, LB/SF (2019–present)
• Craig James – Philadelphia Eagles, CB (2018–present)
• Ryan Neal – Seattle Seahawks, CB/SF (2018–present)
• Madre Harper – New York Giants, CB (2019–present)

All-Americans

Cornell Craig is the school's all-time leading receiver and first receiver in school history to earn consensus All-American honors (1999). His senior season he led the nation in receiving with 77 receptions for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a senior. His career numbers (all Saluki records) are 207 receptions, 3,508 yards, and 37 touchdowns. He was inducted into the SIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and is also honored on Missouri Valley Conference's 25th anniversary team along with three other Salukis.^[9]

Assistant coaches who became head coaches

Don Cross assistant OL 1960–1965 under HC Carmen Piccone & Don Shroyer Missouri State HC

Bob Ledbetter assistant 1968–1971 under HC Dick Towers Norfolk State HC

Jim Caldwell assistant WR 1978–1980 under Rey Dempsey HC Wake Forest, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions

Alex Wood assistant DB 1981 under Rey Dempsey HC James Madison, Buffalo,Florida A&M

Shawn Watson assistant GA 1982 under Rey Dempsey HC Southern Illinois, Wofford

Jan Quarless assistant 1976–1982 DL/OL/OC under Rey Dempsey HC Southern Illinois

Charlie Strong assistant WR 1986–1987 under Ray Dorr HC Florida, Louisville, Texas, South Florida

Jeff McInerney assistant LB 1988 under Rick Rhoades HC Centeal Connecticut State

Bill Callahan assistant OC 1989 under Bob Smith HC Oakland Raiders, Nebraska, Washington Redskins

Kirby Wilson assistant LB 1991 DC 1992 under Bob Smith HC Pittsburgh Maulers

David Elson assistant GA 1994–1995 under Shawn Watson HC Western Kentucky

Dan Enos assistant QB/WR 1997–1998 under Jan Quarless HC Central Michigan

Tracy Claeys assistant DC 2001–2007 under Jerry Kill HC Minnesota

Tom Matukewicz assistant LB 2001–2007 under Jerry Kill HC Southeast Missouri State

Jay Sawvel assistant DB/ST 2001–2007 under Jerry Kill HC Wyoming

Kyle Schweigert assistant DC 2008–2013 under Dale Lennon HC North Dakota

Kenni Burns Assistant TE 2008–2009 under Dale Lennon HC Kent State

Kalen DeBoer assistant OC/WR 2010–2013 under Dale Lennon HC Fresno State, Washington, Alabama

Nick Hill assistant QB/OC 2014–2015 under Dale Lennon HC Southern Illinois

Eric Schmidt assistant DL/LB/ST 2008–2013 under Dale Lennon HC North Dakota

Phil Longo assistant OC 2008–2009 under Dale Lennon HC Sam Houston State

Home venue

Main article: Saluki Stadium

SIU Football plays at the 15,000-seat Saluki Stadium, which replaced McAndrew Stadium, the home of Saluki Football since 1938.^[10] Saluki Stadium opened on September 2, 2010 when a sellout crowd of 15,200 watched the Salukis defeat Quincy 70–7.^[11]

The Saluki Stadium is part of the university's larger athletic facilities plan, known as "Saluki Way,"^[12] a comprehensive plan to renovate and restructure the campus athletic facilities.^[13]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of Mrch 26, 2025.^[14]

2025	2026	2027
Thomas More	at Illinois	at Wisconsin
at Purdue
at UT Martin
at Southeast Missouri State

See also

• Southern Illinois Salukis