The Azusa Pacific Cougars football program is a college football team that represents Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. The Cougars compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

Azusa Pacific revived its football program in 2025 after initially ending its program, then at the NCAA Division II level, in 2020.

Before the 2020 shutdown, the Cougars has been members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, joining in 2012. Before that, the Cougars had been an independent program in the NAIA.

The Cougars have had ten head coaches since their first recorded football game in 1965.

The most famous player to play for the Cougars is former NFL All-Pro running back Christian Okoye.

History Conferences NAIA independent (1997–2011) Great Northwest Athletic Conference (2012–2020) Inactive (2021–2025) Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (2026–present)

Championships National championships 1998 NAIA (1) Division I (1) Vic Shealy 12–2 Olivet Nazarene W, 17–14

Playoff appearances NCAA Division II The Cougars appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 0–2.

2016 First Round Sioux Falls L, 21–34 2018 First Round Tarleton State L, 0–58

NAIA The Cougars appeared in the NAIA playoffs eight times, with an overall record of 7–9. 1998 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship TaylorCentral WashingtonHuronOlivet Nazarene W, 31–28W, 35–28W, 26–24W, 17–14 1999 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals DoaneHastingsGeorgetown (KY) W, 31–12W, 38–35L, 35–66 2000 First Round MidAmerica Nazarene L, 21–27 2003 First Round Mary (ND) L, 2–20 2004 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals NW Oklahoma StateSioux FallsCarroll (MT) W, 16–0W, 24–3L, 10–14 2005 First Round Montana Tech L, 17–24 2010 First Round Carroll (MT) L, 21–35 2011 First RoundQuarterfinals Ottawa (KS)Carroll (MT) W, 49–26L, 14–17

Head coaches

NameTermTom Nelson1965Dave Drake1966John Crandall1967–1969Bob Damewood1970–1971Jerry Sconce1972–1977Jim Milhon1978–1994Vic Shealy1995–1998Pete Shinnick1999–2005Victor Santa Cruz2006–2019Rudy Carlton2020AJ Parnell2026

References