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Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Football
2024 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team
First season1915; 109 years ago (1915)
Head coachBrian Wright
1st season, 8–4 (.667)
StadiumWalkup Skydome
(capacity: 10,500)
LocationFlagstaff, Arizona
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
All-time record457–451–23 (.503)
Conference titles2 (1978, 2003)
RivalriesSouthern Utah (rivalry)
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
Websitenauathletics.com

The NAU Lumberjacks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Northern Arizona University located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1915. The team plays its home games at the 10,500 seat Walkup Skydome. Brian Wright was hired as the Head Football Coach on December 3, 2023.

History

The Lumberjacks have maintained numerous rivalries with their western counterparts. Competition has not only been limited to the west. The Lumberjacks have also taken on eastern programs such as the Ole Miss Rebels, Florida Atlantic Owls, and the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

On September 18, 2021, Northern Arizona beat Arizona for the first time since 1932, winning 21–19. It was their first win against a FBS team since beating UTEP in 2018 and their third overall win against an FBS team since 2012. It is also the first time they beat a member of the Pac-12 Conference. [2][3]

Classifications

  • 1937–1952: NCAA College Division
  • 1953–1968: NAIA
  • 1969–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
  • 1978–present: NCAA Division I

Conference affiliations

Championships

Conference championships

Year Coach Conference Overall Record Conference Record
1956 Max Spilsbury Frontier Conference 8–2 3–0
1957 8–1 3–0
1958 11–1 3–0
1959 6–2–1 3–0
1960 6–3–2 2–0–1
1961 3–5–1 1–0–1
1962 6–4 2–0
1978 Joe Salem Big Sky Conference 8–2 6–0
2003 Jerome Souers 9–4 5–2

Postseason results

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

The Lumberjacks have appeared in the NCAA I-AA/FCS playoffs seven times, with an overall record of 1–6.

Year Round Opponent Result Head coach
1996 First Round Furman L 32–41 Steve Axman
1999 First Round @ Georgia Southern L 29–72 Jerome Souers
2001 First Round @ Sam Houston State L 31–34
2003 First Round
Quarterfinals
@ McNeese State
Florida Atlantic
W 35–3
L 25–48
2013 First Round South Dakota State L   7–26
2017 First Round San Diego L 10–41
2024 First Round Abilene Christian L   0–24 Brian Wright

NCAA Division II playoffs

Year Round Opponent Result Head coach
1977 Quarterfinals     Jacksonville State     L 0–35     Joe Salem    
  • NAU was runner-up in Big Sky to champion Boise State, which had a scheduling conflict.

NAIA

Year Round Opponent Result Head coach
1958 Semifinal Gustavus Adolphus W 41–12     Max Spilsbury    
1958 Final Northeastern State L 13–19     Max Spilsbury    

Rivalries

Weber State

Northern Arizona leads Weber State 29–28 overall in the series through the 2024 fall season and also had a 2-1 record for the trophy, with the last meeting in Flagstaff on November 2, 2024 winning 27–6.

Southern Utah

Northern Arizona leads Southern Utah 16–10 in the series through the 2021 fall season.

Current coaching staff

Name Position
Brian Wright Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Adam Clark Defensive Coordinator
Manako Tuifua Defensive Line Coach
Aaron Cheatwood Linebackers Coach
Rodney Brown Defensive Backs Coach
Nick Fett Tight Ends Coach
Jerry DiMinno Wide Receivers Coach
Bryan Larson Offensive Line Coach
Terry Swanson Running Backs Coach
Josh Robinson Special Teams Coordinator

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of August 11, 2024.[5]

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039
vs Lincoln (CA) at Arizona State at Arizona vs Utah Tech at Arizona State at Arizona State at Arizona at Arizona vs Southern Utah at Arizona at Arizona State at Southern Utah vs Southern Utah at Southern Utah vs Southern Utah at Southern Utah
at Arizona vs Utah Tech vs Incarnate Word at Incarnate Word vs Southern Utah at Southern Utah vs Southern Utah at Southern Utah at Arizona at Southern Utah vs Southern Utah
at Utah Tech vs Incarnate Word vs Utah Tech at Arizona at Utah Tech
at Incarnate Word

References

  1. ^ "Northern Arizona University Visual Identity Guide". Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ^ @NAU_Football (September 19, 2021). "FINAL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "NAU Knocks off Arizona 21-19 for First Ever Win Against a Pac-12 Opponent". September 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Leslie Duncan - ArenaFan.com". www.arenafan.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "Northern Arizona Lumberjacks". fbsschedules.com. USATODAY College Sports. Retrieved August 11, 2024.