Western Kentucky Football: A Brief History

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:

  

First Season: 1908

Head Coach: Bobby Petrino (0 seasons, 0-0)

All-Time Record: 511-349-30

Bowl Record: 0-1 FBS (Little Caesars Bowl) 2-0 Other Divisions (Refrigerator Bowl, Tangerine Bowl)

Playing Field: Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium (22,000)

Conference Affiliations:

• Independent: 1913-1926
• No Team: 1917-1919, 1943-1945
• Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association: 1927-1941
• Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: 1946-1947
• Ohio Valley: 1948-1981, 1999-2000
• Division I-AA Independent: 1982-1998, 2007-2008
• Gateway Football Conference: 2001-2006
• Sun Belt Conference: 2009-Current

Attendance: 30,588 (5-year average)

Claimed National Titles: One

• 2002 Football Championship Subdivision Championship

Conference Titles: 11

• 1932 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship
• 1952 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1963 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1970 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1971 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1973 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1975 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1978 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 1980 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 2000 Ohio Valley Conference Champions
• 2002 Gateway Football Conference Champions

Record Versus Rivals (10+ meetings):

• MTSU: 29-32-1
• Troy: 2-8-1
• Louisville: 12-19
• Western Michigan: 3-11-1
• Akron: 3-7-2
• Morehead State: 41-7-2
• Austin Peay: 35-6-1
• Eastern Kentucky: 46-35-3
• Murray State: 36-24-7
• Tennessee Tech: 28-23-1
• Illinois State: 10-3
• Indiana State: 14-6-1
• Missouri State: 8-2
• Northern Iowa: 5-5
• Southern Illinois: 9-6
• Western Illinois: 8-4
• Youngstown State: 10-6

*Italics are teams from I-AA affiliation.*

Year-By-Year Record (Since 2001, Division I FBS Era, Joining the Sun Belt)

• 1910s: 6-7-2
• 1920s: 47-32-3
• 1930s: 67-20-5
• 1940s: 29-28-5
• 1950s: 54-37-3
• 1960s: 56-32-8
• 1970: 8-1-1
• 1971: 8-2
• 1972: 7-3
• 1973: 12-1
• 1974: 7-3
• 1975: 11-2
• 1976: 4-5-1
• 1977: 1-8-1
• 1978: 8-2
• 1979: 5-5
• 1980: 9-1
• 1981: 6-5
• 1982: 5-5
• 1983: 2-8
• 1984: 2-9
• 1985: 4-7
• 1986: 4-6-1
• 1987: 7-4
• 1988: 9-4
• 1989: 6-5
• 1990: 2-8
• 1991: 3-8
• 1992: 4-6
• 1993: 8-3
• 1994: 5-6
• 1995: 2-8
• 1996: 7-4
• 1997: 10-2
• 1998: 7-4
• 1999: 6-5
• 2000: 11-2
• 2001: 8-4
• 2002: 12-3
• 2003: 9-4
• 2004: 9-3
• 2005: 6-5
• 2006: 6-5
• 2007: 7-5
• 2008: 2-10
• 2009: 0-12
• 2010: 2-10
• 2011: 7-5
• 2012: 7-6

Coaching/Team History:

Western Kentucky started its football program in 1908 but did not start playing sanctioned games until the 1913 season with a combination of coaches. M.A. Leiper and Roy Manchester combined to coach the Hilltoppers for their inaugural season which consisted of a 20-0 win over Elizabethtown.

Coach J.L. Arthur then took over the program for three years coaching a total of 14 games with a 5-7-2 overall record including 6 of their games versus Eastern Kentucky. Stadium namesake L.T. Smith took over for Arthur and coached 8 games in two years going 2-5-1 overall including a 21-0 win over EKU in 1921.

With Smith stepping aside, basketball coach E.A. Diddle took over the program for 7 seasons leading the Hilltoppers to winning seasons in 4 of those seven seasons capped by a 9-1 season to start and an 8-1 season to end. The Hilltoppers outscored opponents 171-7 in Diddle's final year (1928) of coaching the program.

After Diddle left the football program, there was an odd 8 year period for Western Kentucky football as Carl Anderson took over the job in 1929 leading the Hilltoppers to a 7-3 record before leaving to take over the Kansas State freshman football team. Coach James Elam took over in 1930 going 16-5-1 during his two seasons including wins over MTSU, EKU and Miami FL. Coach Ernie Miller then took over for Elam for the 1932 seasons going 7-1 during his only season on the hill. After Miller left following his one season, coach Jesse Thomas took over for the 1933 season going 6-2 with wins over MTSU, Louisville, and Memphis. Thomas then left giving way to Carl Anderson for a second stint with the Hilltoppers.

After going 7-3 in his previous stint with Western Kentucky, Anderson coached the Hilltoppers again from 1934-1937 going 24-9-3 with wins over EKU in all four seasons coached. Anderson's best year with the Hilltoppers was his final year (1937) going 7-1-1 on the year.

After Anderson left the hill once again, the Hilltoppers chose William "Gander" Terry to take over the program. Terry was solid in his 4 seasons in Bowling Green going 25-9-3 beat both rivals MTSU and EKU on a regular basis. Terry left the program following the 1941 season following a 4-5-1 record.

Taking over for Terry, coach Arnold Winkenhofer coached the Hilltoppers to a 3-4-1 season in 1942 before the program was stopped from 1943-1945 during World War II. Winkenhofer did not return when the program was restarted. Needing a new coach after World War II, the Hilltoppers went back to former coach Jesse Thomas for his second run. Thomas only stayed two seasons for WKU this time with much less successful results going 5-10-2 during that time.

Needing some stability after losing coaches in 2 of the least three seasons, Western Kentucky went after coach Jack Clayton. Clayton became the longest tenured head coach to that point staying for 9 seasons and coaching 85 games for the Hilltoppers going 50-33-2 including 4 wins over EKU and 2 wins over MTSU. Clayton's time was capped by his 1952 season that ended with a win in the 1952 Refrigerator Bowl over Arkansas State, 34-19. Clayton left for Northwestern State following the 1956 season.

With Clayton's departure, Western Kentucky needed another coach and ended up with another big name in school history. Coach Nick Denes took over the program and coached the Hilltoppers for 11 seasons going 57-39-7 with a top season of 10-0-1 in 1963 capped by a win over the Coast Guard in the Tengerine Bowl, 27-0. Denes coached through the 1967 season and left the football program following a 42-19 win over Murray State in the 1967 season finale.

After Denes and Clayton combining to coach for the previous 20 years for the Hilltoppers, Western Kentucky wanted another long term fix and hired assistant Jimmy Feix as head coach. Feix took over in 1968 leading the Hilltoppers to 7-2-1 and 6-3-1 seasons before getting on a roll with the program winning the Ohio Valley Conference in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978, and 1980. Feix also led the Hilltoppers to the D-II title game in 1973 and 1975 losing to Louisiana Tech and Northern Michigan respectively. In 1982, the NCAA started a I-AA division which Feix led the Hilltoppers into as an independent for two years before retiring after the 1983 season.

After Feix's retirement, the Hilltoppers set their sights on Vanderbilt assistant Dave Roberts. Roberts accepted the job and struggled to 2-9, 4-7, and 4-6-1 seasons in his first three years on the hill. After those three tough seasons, Roberts turned things around with playoff berths in 1987 and 1988 with the Hilltoppers making it to the quarterfinals in 1988. After the 1988 season, Roberts left Western Kentucky for the Northeast Louisiana head coaching job.

With Roberts leaving the program for Northeast Louisiana, the Hilltoppers appointed University of Pittsburgh assistant Jack Harbaugh head coach. Harbaugh was brought into a tough situation as the football program was considered to be cut to save money for the university. Despite winning the vote and keeping the program, Harbaugh struggled with the lack of resources and backing from the university. Harbaugh finally broke through with an 8-3 season in 1993 and a 10-2 season in 1997 including a I-AA quarterfinal berth. In 1999, Harbaugh led the Hilltoppers back to the Ohio Valley conference with a 6-5 record in 1999. The following year saw the Hilltoppers go 11-2 with another quarterfinal berth of the I-AA playoffs. The Hilltoppers then moved on to the Gateway Conference going 8-4 in their inaugural season with a playoff appearance before going 12-3 in 2002 with a I-AA National Championship win over McNeese State, 34-14. Following the national title win, Harbaugh decided to leave while on the top, retiring from his illustrious coaching career.

With Harbaugh retiring from the program after the 2002 season, Western Kentucky needed a new coach. After much debate, the administration hired in-house with the appointment of defensive coordinator David Elson who had been with the program since 1996. In Elson's first season, the Hilltoppers went 9-4 and made it to the I-AA quarterfinals followed by a 9-3 record in 2004 and playoff appearance. After two more season in the Gateway Conference, the Hilltoppers became a I-AA independent with the goal of moving to the FBS ranks. 2009 became Western Kentucky's first year as a FBS team (2008 was transitional year) joining the Sun Belt Conference. The first year in the Sun Belt was also Elson's last year with the Hilltoppers going 0-12 on the season. Elson was fired following poor performance.

Needing a replacement for Elson following the poor performance of the previous two seasons, the Hilltoppers turned to former star quarterback Willie Taggart who was running  backs coach at Stanford. Taggart took over the program in 2010 struggling to a 2-10 season before consecutive 7-5 seasons capped by the first FBS bowl berth in school history. Taggart left the program before the Hilltoppers played in the Little Caesars Bowl taking the University of South Florida job and taking the majority of his staff from Western Kentucky. Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry stayed and coached the bowl game before moving on to Stephen F. Austin to assist.

With Taggart moving on and the Hilltoppers coming off of a bowl berth, Western Kentucky made national news hiring former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino as their new head coach. Petrino is heading into his first season as head coach of the Hilltoppers and has a 75-26 overall college record with five top 20 finishes and three top 10 finishes.

All-Americans:

• 1952 Jimmy Feix (66), QB ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1957 Jim “Yogi” Hardin (62), G (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1958 Jim “Yogi” Hardin (62), G (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1963 John Mutchler (83), E WILLIAMSON MID-BRACKET, (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1963 Jim Burt (30), HB (honorable mention) WILLIAMSON MID-BRACKET, TOM HARMON DEFENSIVE
• 1964 Dale Lindsey (44), FB ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1967 Dickie Moore (45), FB (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1970 Lawrence Brame (78), DE ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1971 Jim Barber (55), LB UNIVERSAL SPORTS
• 1973 Porter Williams (22), SE UNIVERSAL SPORTS
• 1973 David Nollner (50), OG (second-team) UNIVERSAL SPORTS
• 1973 Mike McCoy (21), DB KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL
• 1974 Virgil Livers (24), DB ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1974 John Bushong (78), DT (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1975 Rick Green (32), LB (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS, LB KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL
• 1977 Chip Carpenter (65), OG KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL
• 1980 Pete Walters (68), OG ASSOCIATED PRESS, OG KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL
• 1980 Tim Ford (80), DE KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL
• 1981 Donnie Evans (50), DE ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1982 Paul Gray (51), LB ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1983 Paul Gray (51), LB ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1987 James Edwards (7), FS WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, FS THE SPORTS NETWORK, FS KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, FS ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1988 Joe Arnold (33), TB WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK, TB ASSOCIATED PRESS, TB HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1988  Dean Tiebout (79), OT WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, OT THE SPORTS NETWORK, OT ASSOCIATED PRESS OT (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1988 Dewayne Penn (73), OG (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK, OG (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1987 Steve Walsh (74), OT (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1989 Russell Foster (32), LB (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK
• 1990 Raji Gordon (22), LB (honorable mention) THE SPORTS NETWORK
• 1995 Brian Bixler (61), C WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1995 Dan McGrath (25), LB (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1996 Joey Stockton (32), WR/RS THE SPORTS NETWORK WR/RS (second-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1996 Mike Mills (12), SS (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1997 Andy Hape (51), OL (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS OL (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1997 Patrick Goodman (74), C THE SPORTS NETWORK(second-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1998 Patrick Goodman (74), OL THE SPORTS NETWORK, OL KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, C ASSOCIATED PRESS OL HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE OL ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1998 Andy Hape (51), OL (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1998 Willie Taggart (1), QB (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 1999 Ben Wittman (91), DE (second-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1999 Melvin Wisham (57), LB HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1999 Peter Martinez (19), PK (second-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 1999 Patrick Goodman (74), OL TEAMLINK.COM
• 1999 Patrick Goodman (74), OL (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK, (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2000 Bobby Sippio (3), CB KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, CB WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, CB THE SPORTS NETWORK, CB ASSOCIATED PRESS, HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2000 Melvin Wisham (57), LB THE SPORTS NETWORK, LB (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2001 Mel Mitchell (4), FS KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, FS WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, FS THE SPORTS NETWORK, FS ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2001 Chris Price (62), OL WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, OL (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK, OL (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS, OL (second-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2001 Erik Dandy (18), ILB THE SPORTS NETWORK, ILB (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2001 Sherrod Coates (11), LB (third-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK
• 2002 Chris Price (62), OL KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, OL THE SPORTS NETWORK, OL WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, OL ASSOCIATED PRESS, OL HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE, OL I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM
• 2002 Sherrod Coates (11), OLB WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION, OLB THE SPORTS NETWORK, OLB ASSOCIATED PRESS, OLB HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE, OLB I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM
• 2002 Buster Ashley (71), OL (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK, OL (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS, OL (second-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE, OL I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM
• 2002 Jeremi Johnson (1), FB I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM
• 2003 Buster Ashley (71), OL KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, OL THE SPORTS NETWORK OL ASSOCIATED PRESS OL I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM (second-team); COLLEGESPORTSREPORT.COM OL HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE OL CSTV: COLLEGE SPORTS TELEVISION
• 2003 Erik Dandy (18), ILB (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK ILB (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS ILB HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2003 Matt Lange (83), PK (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK
• 2003 Karl Maslowski (48), LB (third-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK
• 2003 Matt Lange (83), PK (second-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS, COLLEGESPORTSREPORT.COM, PK HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2003 Jeremy Chandler (20), CB (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2003 Karl Maslowski (48), LB (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2004 Buster Ashley (71), OL KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL, OL WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION OL (second-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK OL ASSOCIATED PRESS OL I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM OL (second-team) COLLEGESPORTSREPORT.COM OL HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2004 Brian Claybourn (8), P (third-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK P (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2004 Antonio Thomas (6), CB (third-team) THE SPORTS NETWORK CB (third-team) COLLEGESPORTSREPORT.COM
• 2004 Charles Thompson (9), ILB I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM
• 2005 Erik Losey (54), OL KODAK/AMERICAN FOOTBALL OL (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2005 Antonio Thomas (6), CB (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS
• 2005 Chris James (83), PK I-AA.ORG ALL-STAR TEAM
• 2006 Curtis Hamilton (15), WR (third-team) HANSEN’S FOOTBALL GAZETTE
• 2010 Willie McNeal (86), Kickoff Returner FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
• 2011 John Evans (26), KOR (honorable mention) SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.COM
• 2011 Bobby Rainey (3), RB (second-team) WALTER CAMP FOUNDATION RB (third-team) ASSOCIATED PRESS (second-team) SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.COM RB (third-team) YAHOO! SPORTS / RIVALS

NFL Players:

• RB Bobby Rainey - Baltimore (2012–present)
• Carl Brazley - former DB for San Diego (1987).
• David Carter - former C for Houston (1977–1983) and New Orleans (1984–1985).
• Darryl Drake - former WR for Washington (1979) and Cincinnati (1983).
• Curtis Hamilton - former WR for Chicago (2008), New Orleans (2009)
• Clarence "Jazz" Jackson, Jr. - former RB for New York Jets (1974–1976).
• Joseph Jefferson - former CB for Indianapolis (2002–2005).
• Jeremi Johnson - former FB for Cincinnati (2003-2009)
• Dale Lindsey - former LB for Cleveland (1965–1972) and New Orleans (1973).
• Virgil Livers - former DB for Chicago (1975–1979)
• Anthony Oakley - former G for Cleveland (2004) and Chicago (2005–2007)
• Rod Smart AKA "He Hate Me" - Former RB for San Diego (2000), Philadelphia (2001), Carolina (2002–2005) and Oakland (2006)
• L.T. Smith (1920–1921, Head Coach) - Namesake of L.T. Smith Stadium
• E.A. Diddle (1922–1928, Head Coach) - Former WKU Hilltoppers basketball Head Coach
• Jimmy Feix (1968–1983, Head Coach; 1957-1967, Assistant Coach; 1986-1991, Athletic Director) - Winningest coach in WKU history; 1973, 1978, and 1980 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year; 1973 and 1975 NCAA Division II National Runners-up
• Jack Harbaugh (1989–2002, Head Coach) - Former Head Coach at Western Michigan, 2000 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, 2002 AFCA Coach of the Year (FCS), 2002 FCS National Champion
• Jerry Glanville (1967, DC) - Former Head Coach of the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons
• Jim Harbaugh (1994–2001, Assistant Coach) - Current NFL Head Coach for the San Francisco 49ers, was an unpaid assistant under his father while playing in the NFL
• Don Martindale - (2001–03, LB Coach, Defensive Coordinator) Linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens Tommy Prothro (1942, Assistant Coach) - Former Head Coach at Oregon State and UCLA, Former Head Coach of the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers, member of the College Football Hall of Fame