Valparaiso Beacons football

For information on all Valparaiso Beacons sports, see Valparaiso Beacons.

The Valparaiso Beacons football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Valparaiso University located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). Valparaiso's first football team was fielded in 1919. The team plays its home games at the 5,000-seat Brown Field in Valparaiso, Indiana. Andy Waddle has served as the team's head coach since 2025. Valparaiso was known as the Crusaders through the 2019 season.

Valparaiso Beacons football
2025 Valparaiso Beacons football team
First season	1919; 106 years ago (1919)
Athletic director	Laurel Hosmer
Head coach	Andy Waddle 1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium	Brown Field (capacity: 5,000)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Valparaiso, Indiana
NCAA division	Division I FCS
Conference	Pioneer Football League
All-time record	395–522–26 (.433)
Bowl record	0–1 (.000)
Conference titles	9
Division titles	1
Colors	Brown and gold[1]
Mascot	Beacons
Website	ValpoAthletics.com

History

Classifications

• 1941–1972: NCAA College Division
• 1973–1978: NCAA Division III
• 1979–1992: NCAA Division II
• 1993–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

• 1919–1923: Independent
• 1924–1925: Western Interstate Conference
• 1926–1933: Independent
• 1934–1947: Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
• 1948–1950: Independent
• 1951–1977: Indiana Collegiate Conference
• 1978–1989: Heartland Collegiate Conference
• 1990–1992: Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference
• 1993–present: Pioneer Football League

Year-by-year results

Head coach George Keogan:
1919	5-3
1920	5-3
Head coach Earl Goheen:
1921	2-2-1
1922	3-2-2
Head coach William Shadoan:
1923	5-2-1
1924	4-3-2
Head coach Millard Anderson:
1925	1-6
Head coach Conrad Moll:
1926	1-4-1
Head coach Earl Scott:
1927	1-5
1928	1-6
Head coach J.M. Christianson:
1929	1-7
1930	5-4
1931	8-1
1932	7-0
1933	7-1
1934	6-2
1935	4-4-1
1936	1-6-1
1937	4-4
1938	2-4-1
1939	2-6
1940	3-3-1
Head coach Victor Dauer:
1941	0-7-1
Head coach Loren Ellis:
1942	4-4
1943	No Football due to WWII
1944	No Football due to WWII
1945	6-1
Head coach Emery Bauer:
1946	1-7
1947	2-5-1
1948	4-5
1949	7-2-1
1950	9-1
1951	9-0
1952	5-3-1
1953	5-2-1
1954	6-2-1
1955	6-3
1956	6-4
(Walt Reiner joins as a Co-Head Coach):
1957	4-2-2
1958	6-3
1959	5-4
1960	3-6
1961	7-2
1962	6-3
1963	3-6
1964	6-3
(Walt Reiner leaves program as Emery Bauer returns full responsibilities):
1965	3-6
1966	3-6
1967	3-6

Head coach Norm Amundsen:
1968	4-5
1969	7-2
1970	5-3-2
1971	8-2
1972	6-4
1973	6-5
1974	3-6
1975	3-6
1976	2-7-1
Head coach Bill Koch:
1977	3-6-1
1978	5-4
1979	5-4
1980	4-5-1
1981	1-9
1982	3-7
1983	4-6
1984	6-4
1985	6-4
1986	3-7
1987	3-6
1988	0-9-1
Head coach Tom Horne:
1989	0-10
1990	1-9
1991	1-8-1
1992	3-8
1993	5-5
1994	7-3
1995	5-5
1996	4-6
1997	3-8
1998	5-6
1999	9-2
2000	7-4
2001	3-8
2002	1-10
2003	8-4
2004	5-6
Head coach Stacey Adams:
2005	3-8
2006	3-8
2007	5-6
2008	3-8
2009	1-10
Head coach Dale Carlson:
2010	0-11
2011	1-10
2012	1-10
2013	1-10
Head coach Dave Cecchini:
2014	4-8
2015	1-9
2016	4-7
2017	6-5
2018	2-9
Head coach Landon Fox:
2019	1-11
2020	4-2
2021	4-7
2022	5-7
2023	3-8
2024	4-7
Head coach Andy Waddle:
2025	TBD

Bowl game appearances

Season	Date	Bowl	W/L	Opponent	PF	PA	Coach	Notes
1950	January 1, 1951	Cigar Bowl	L	La Crosse State	14	47	Emery Bauer	notes
Total		1 bowl game	0–1		14	47

Championships

Conference championships

Year	Conference	Coach	Overall Record	Conference Record
1945	Indiana Intercollegiate Conference	Loren Ellis	6–1	4–0
1951		Emory Bauer	9–0	4–0
1952†			5–3–1	3–1–1
1954			6–2–1	5–1
1964†			6–3	4–2
1968		Norm Amundsen	4–5	4–0
1969†			7–2	3–1
2000†	Pioneer Football League	Tom Horne	7–4	3–1
2003			8–4	3–1
Total conference championships				9

† Co-champions

Divisional championships

From 2001 to 2005, the Pioneer Football League (PFL) was divided into North and South Divisions. As winners of the PFL's North Division, Valparaiso has made one appearance in the Pioneer Football League Championship Game, in 2003. Valparaiso shared the Division title with San Diego in 2003, but the tie-breaker allowed the Crusaders to represent the division in the championship game.

Year	Division championship	Opponent	CG result
2003†	PFL North	Morehead State	W 54–42

† Co-champions

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of July 27, 2025.^[2]

2025	2026	2027	2028
Virginia–Lynchburg	at Murray State	at Illinois State	at Youngstown State
Adrian College	at Indiana State
at Western Illinois
at North Dakota