Azusa Pacific Cougars football
| Azusa Pacific Cougars football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1965 |
| Head coach | Rudy Carlton |
| Stadium | Citrus Stadium (capacity: 10,000) |
| Field surface | FieldTurf |
| Location | Azusa, California, U.S. |
| NCAA division | Division II |
| Conference | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Claimed national titles | 2 (1 NAIA, 1 NCCAA) |
| Conference titles | 4 (GNAC) |
| Colors | Brick and black[1] |
| Website | athletics.apu.edu |
The Azusa Pacific Cougars football program is a dormant college football team that represents Azusa Pacific University. From 2012 to 2020, the team was a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference of NCAA Division II. Prior to the 2012 season, the Cougars had been an independent program in the NAIA.[2] The Cougars had 10 head coaches since their first recorded football game in 1965.[3] The most famous player to play for the Cougars is Christian Okoye.
Azusa Pacific University decided to end its football program in December 2020 due to financial restructuring.[4] The team was revived in March 2025 with plans of playing in NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference starting in 2026.[5]
Championships
National championships
| Year | Association | Division | Head coach | Record | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | First Round | Sioux Falls | L, 21–34 |
| 2018 | First Round | Tarleton State | L, 0–58 |
Head coaches
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Tom Nelson | 1965 |
| Dave Drake | 1966 |
| John Crandall | 1967–1969 |
| Bob Damewood | 1970–1971 |
| Jerry Sconce | 1972–1977 |
| Jim Milhon | 1978–1994 |
| Vic Shealy | 1995–1998 |
| Pete Shinnick | 1999–2005 |
| Victor Santa Cruz | 2006–2019 |
| Rudy Carlton | 2020 |
| AJ Parnell | 2026 |
References
- ^ Azusa Pacific University Graphics Standards Guide (PDF). Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ Aird, Donovan (June 5, 2008). "How the West was undone". Mustang Daily. p. 14. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Football-Azusa Pacific Year-by-Year" (PDF). Football Media Guide. Azusa Pacific University Athletics. May 22, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "Football Draws to a Close at Azusa Pacific".
- ^ "APU Announces Return of Football, Transition to NCAA Division III" (Press release). Azusa Pacific University. March 17, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.