The Elon Phoenix football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Elon University located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The school first fielded a football team in 1909 and currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). After 11 seasons in the Southern Conference, Elon joined the Coastal Athletic Association for all sports, including football, in 2014. The Phoenix play their home games at the 13,100 seat Rhodes Stadium.
History
Classifications 1991–1998: NCAA Division II 1999–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS
Conference affiliations Independent (1909–1931) North State Conference/Carolinas Conference (1932–1974) South Atlantic Conference (1975–1996) NCAA Division II independent (1997–1998) NCAA Division I-AA independent (1999–2001) Big South Conference (2002) Southern Conference (2003–2013) Coastal Athletic Association (2014–present)
Postseason history
NCAA Division I-AA/FCS The Phoenix have appeared in the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs four times. Their record combined is 0–4.
2009 First Round at Richmond L, 13–16 2017 First Round vs. Furman L, 27–28 2018 First Round at Wofford L, 7–19 2022 First Round at Furman L, 6–31
NAIA The Phoenix, then known as the Fighting Christians, appeared in the NAIA playoffs six times. Their combined record was 10–4.
1973 SemifinalsNational Championship Wisconsin–La CrosseAbilene Christian W, 35–24L, 14–42 1974 SemifinalsNational ChampionshipHenderson StateTexas A&I W, 21–7L, 23–34 1976 Semifinals Central Arkansas L, 7–10 1978 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship ConcordGrand Valley StateAngelo State W, 21–6W, 13–7L, 14–24 1980 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship ConcordEast Texas StateNortheastern State W, 17–14W, 14–6W, 17–10 1981 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship ConcordHillsdalePittsburg State W, 38–8W, 41–13W, 3–0
Championships National 1980 NAIA Division I Jerry Tolley Playoffs 13–1–0 Northeastern State (OK) 17–10 1981 NAIA Division I Jerry Tolley Playoffs 11–1–1 Pittsburg State 3–0
Conference 1933 Peahead Walker North State Conference 5–3–1 1934Co Peahead Walker North State Conference 6–2–1 1935 Peahead Walker North State Conference 6–4–0 1936 Peahead Walker North State Conference 6–5–0 1938Co Horace Hendrickson North State Conference 6–3–0 1941 Horace Hendrickson North State Conference 8–1–0 1957 Sid Varney North State Conference 6–0–0 1963Co George Tucker Carolinas Conference 6–4–0 1964 George Tucker Carolinas Conference 8–1–1 1971 Shirley Wilson Carolinas Conference 8–3–0 1972Co Shirley Wilson Carolinas Conference 7–3–1 1973 Shirley Wilson Carolinas Conference 12–1–0 1974 Shirley Wilson Carolinas Conference 10–2–0 1976 Shirley Wilson South Atlantic Conference 11–1–0 1977 Shirley Wilson South Atlantic Conference 9–2–0 1978Co Shirley Wilson South Atlantic Conference 11–2–1 1980Co Jerry Tolley South Atlantic Conference 13–1–0 1981 Jerry Tolley South Atlantic Conference 11–1–1 Total 18
Notable former players Notable alumni include:
Jack Boone Hal Bradley Joey Hackett Terrell Hudgins Dwayne Ijames Rich McGeorge Cameron McGlenn Shane Gillis Aaron Mellette Chad Nkang Tony Settles Jimmy Smith Joe West Oli Udoh
Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of July 14, 2026.
Glenville State at Charlotte at Wake Forest Western Carolina at Western Carolina at Davidson Norfolk State at Norfolk State Wofford at Stanford
References
External links