Abilene Christian Wildcats football
2023 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team
First season1919
Athletic directorZack Lassiter
Head coachKeith Patterson
2nd season, 9–4 (.692)
StadiumAnthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
(capacity: 12,000)
LocationAbilene, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceUnited Athletic Conference
All-time record524–445–31 (.540)
Claimed national titles2 (2 NAIA)
Conference titles13 (7 TCAC, 1 Gulf Coast, 4 Lone Star, 1 WAC)
Division titles3 (3 Lone Star South)
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
OutfitterUnder Armour
WebsiteACUSports.com

The Abilene Christian Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Abilene Christian University located in the U.S. state of Texas. The team was a member of the Southland Conference through the 2020–21 season,[2] but joined the Western Athletic Conference in July 2021, coinciding with that league's reinstatement of football as an official conference sport.[3] After the 2022 season, the WAC fully merged its football league with that of the ASUN Conference, creating what eventually became the United Athletic Conference, and ACU accordingly moved its football team to the new league.[4][5] The school's first football team was fielded in 1919. The team plays its home games at the on-campus Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium.

History

The Wildcats offensive line lines up for a field goal during a 2023 game

Football classifications

 • Abilene Christian did not field a team in 1943–1945.

Conference affiliations

Head coaching history

NameSeasonsRecordPct
Vernon McCasland 1919 2–2 .500
Sewell Jones 1920 4–0–1 .900
Russell A. Lewis 1921 2–5 .286
Victor Payne 1922–1923 12–3 .800
A. B. Morris 1924–1941 66–77–18 .466
Tonto Coleman 1942–1949 28–15–2 .644
Garvin Beauchamp 1950–1955 39–18–4 .672
N. L. Nicholson 1956–1961 28–30–1 .483
Les Wheeler 1962–1967 29–28 .509
Wally Bullington 1968–1976 62–32–2 .656
DeWitt Jones 1977–1978 18–4–1 .804
Ted Sitton 1979–1984 34–27–1 .556
John Payne 1985–1990 26–34–1 .435
Ronnie Peacock 1991–1992 4–15 .211
Bob Strader 1993–1995 14–17 .452
Jack Kiser 1996–1999 22–19 .537
Gary Gaines 2000–2004 21–30 .412
Chris Thomsen 2005–2011 61–21 .744
Ken Collums 2012–2016 24–32 .429
Adam Dorrel 2017–2021 19–32 .373
Keith Patterson 2021-present 9-4 .692

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Championships

National championships

Season Coach Selectors Record Bowl
1973Wally BullingtonNAIA Playoffs11–1Won NAIA Championship
1977DeWitt JonesNAIA Playoffs11–1–1Won NAIA Championship
National Championships 2

Conference championships

Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1939†A.B. MorrisTexas Collegiate Athletic Conference6–2–15–1
1940†7–25–1
1946†Tonto Coleman8–1–15–0–1
1950Garvin Beauchamp11–05–0
1951†6–43–1
19526–3–14–0
1953†7–33–1
1955†Gulf Coast Conference3–5–22–1
1973Wally BullingtonLone Star Conference11–19–0
1977†DeWitt Jones11–1–15–1–1
2008Chris Thomsen11–19–0
201011–110–0
2022†Keith PattersonWestern Athletic Conference7–43–1
Conference Championships 13

† Co-champions

Division championships

Year Coach Division championship Overall record Conference record Division record
2002†Gary GainesLSC South6–46–25–1
2008Chris Thomsen11–19–06–0
201011–110–08–0
Division Championships 3

† Co-champions

Bowl games

Date Bowl Coach Opponent Result
December 2, 1950Refrigerator BowlGarvin BeauchampGustavus Adolphus CollegeW 14–7
December 4, 1976San Jancinto Shrine BowlWally BullingtonHardingW 22–12

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II

The Wildcats have appeared in the Division II playoffs six times with an overall record of 3–6.

Year Round Opponent Result
2006First RoundWest Texas A&ML 27–30 OT
2007First Round
Second Round		Mesa State
Chadron State		W 56–12
L 73–76 3OT
2008Second Round
Quarterfinals		West Texas A&M
Northwest Missouri State		W 93–68
L 36–45
2009First Round
Second Round		Midwestern State
Northwest Missouri State		W 24–21
L 10–35
2010Second RoundCentral MissouriL 41–55
2011First RoundWashburnL 49–52

NAIA

The Wildcats have appeared in the NAIA playoffs two times with an overall record of 4–0. They were National Champions in 1973 and 1977.

Year Round Opponent Result
1973Semifinals
National Championship Game		Langston
Elon		W 34–6
W 42–14
1977Semifinals
National Championship Game		Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Southwestern Oklahoma State		W 35–7
W 24–7

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 18, 2022.[6]

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
Northern Colorado at Texas Tech at TCU at Texas Tech at Texas A&M
at Prairie View A&M at Northern Colorado at Idaho
at North Texas Idaho
at Texas A&M at New Mexico State

See also

References

  1. ↑ Abilene Christian University Branding and Editorial Style Guide. July 1, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ McMurphy, Brett. "Abilene Christian to Southland". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Abilene Christian Wildcats Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
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