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 until the 2019 season.

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 4–720176–520182–9Head coach Landon Fox:20191–1120204–220214–720225–720233–820244–7Head coach Andy Waddle:20252–10

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 YearConferenceCoachOverall RecordConference 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 in 2003, but the tie-breaker allowed the Crusaders to represent the division in the championship game.

YearDivision championshipOpponentCG result 2003† PFL North Morehead State W 54–42 † Co-champions

Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of July 20, 2026.

Lawrence Tech at North Dakota at Youngstown State at Murray State at Illinois State at Northern Iowa at Indiana State  

References

External links