Charleston Golden Eagles football

The Charleston Golden Eagles football program represents University of Charleston in college football at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC).^[2] The program competed between 1904 and 1956 when the school was known as Morris Harvey College. The Golden Eagles play home games at University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field in Charleston, West Virginia.

Charleston Golden Eagles football
2024 Charleston Golden Eagles football team
First season	1904; 121 years ago (1904)
Athletic director	Bren Stevens
Head coach	Michael Tesch 1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium	University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field (capacity: 18,500)
Field surface	Artificial Turf
Location	Charleston, West Virginia
NCAA division	Division II
Conference	Mountain East Conference
Past conferences	WVIAC (1925–2012)
All-time record	292–266–20 (.522)
Bowl record	3–1 (.750)
Playoff appearances	3 (2015, 2023, 2024)
Playoff record	1–3
Conference titles	8 (6 WVIAC, 2 MEC)
Division titles	1 (2020)
Rivalries	West Virginia State
Consensus All-Americans	9
Colors	Maroon and gold[1]
Mascot	Golden Eagle
Marching band	The Squadron of Gold
Website	Charleston Golden Eagles football

History

Year	Coach	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs	AFCA#
Walter O. Ropp (Independent) (1904–1907)
1904	Walter O. Ropp	2-0
1905	Walter O. Ropp	0-1
1906	Walter O. Ropp	0-1
1907	Walter O. Ropp	2-3
No Coach (Independent) (1908–1909)
1908	No Coach	3-0
1909	No Coach	0-3
Kemper Shelton (Independent) (1910–1913)
1910	Kemper Shelton	0-2-1
1911	Kemper Shelton	4-3
1912	Kemper Shelton	2-2
1913	Kemper Shelton	2-2-2
Diener (Independent) (1914)
1914	Diener	0-4
No Coach (Independent) (1915)
1915	No Coach	0-0*
Diener (Independent) (1916)
1916	Diener	0-2
Herman Beckelheimer (Independent) (1917–1918)
1917	Herman Beckelheimer	2-4-1
1918	Herman Beckelheimer	0-0*
W.W. Lovell (Independent) (1919)
1919	W.W. Lovell	1-5
Brownie Fulton (Independent) (1920)
1920	Brownie Fulton	5-2
Herman Beckelheimer (Independent) (1921–1923)
1921	Herman Beckelheimer	6-3
1922	Herman Beckelheimer	4-4-1
1923	Herman Beckelheimer	0-8
H.J. Hindman (WVIAC) (1924–1925)
1924	H.J. Hindman	0-4
1925	H.J. Hindman	1-6
Brownie Fulton (WVIAC) (1926–1928)
1926	Brownie Fulton	3-6
1927	Brownie Fulton	3-4-1
1928	Brownie Fulton	2-9	1-6
A.E. Rezzonico (WVIAC) (1929)
1929	A.E. Rezzonico	0-11	0-8
Frank Arritt (WVIAC) (1930)
1930	Frank Arritt	2-5-2	1-3-2
Gilbert Welch (WVIAC) (1931)
1931	Gilbert Welch	5-5	4-5
Red Weaver (WVIAC) (1932–1933)
1932	Red Weaver	0-9	0-4
1933	Red Weaver	1-8	0-5
Walter Walker (WVIAC) (1934–1935)
1934	Walter Walker	3-5-1	3-2-1
1935	Walter Walker	2-7	2-4
Homer Martin (WVIAC) (1936)
1936	Homer Martin	0-9	0-7
Thurman Ward (WVIAC) (1937–1941)
1937	Thurman Ward	5-4	3-4
1938	Thurman Ward	8-1-1	7-0-1	1st
1939	Thurman Ward	6-3-1
1940	Thurman Ward	5-3-1
1941	Thurman Ward	5-3-1	3-0-1	2nd
Cebe Ross (WVIAC) (1942)
1942	Cebe Ross	6-1-2	4-0	1st
Alderson Propps (WVIAC) (1946)
1946	Alderson Propps / Eddie King	2-5	2-3	7th
Eddie King (WVIAC) (1947–1956)
1947	Eddie King	4-5	3-3	7th
1948	Eddie King	5-2-2	3-0-1	1st
1949	Eddie King	7-2-2	3-1	3rd
1950	Eddie King	10-0	5-0	1st	W Tangerine Bowl
1951	Eddie King	6-3-1	4-0	1st	W Burley Bowl
1952	Eddie King	6-3	4-0	2nd
1953	Eddie King	6-4-1	4-0	1st	W Elks Bowl
1954	Eddie King	8-2	4-0	1st	L Cigar Bowl
1955	Eddie King	4-5	2-0	NA
1956	Eddie King	5-4	1-0	NA
Mike Springston (Independent) (2003–2004)
2003	Mike Springston	2-9		NA
2004	Mike Springston	3-7		NA
Tony DeMeo (WVIAC) (2005–2010)
2005	Tony DeMeo	8-3	6-2	3rd
2006	Tony DeMeo	5-6	4-3	T-2nd
2007	Tony DeMeo	8-3	6-2	T-2nd
2008	Tony DeMeo	7-4	5-3	T-4th
2009	Tony DeMeo	9-2	6-2	T-2nd		23
2010	Tony DeMeo	6-5	4-4	T-5th
Pat Kirkland (WVIAC) (2011–2012)
2011	Pat Kirkland	5-6	5-3	T-4th
2012	Pat Kirkland	9-2	6-2	T-2nd		25
Pat Kirkland (MEC) (2013–2021)
2013	Pat Kirkland	6-5	6-3	3rd
2014	Pat Kirkland	8-3	7-3	T-3rd
2015	Pat Kirkland	10-2	9-1	2nd	L NCAA Division II First Round	20
2016	Pat Kirkland	3-8	3-7	T-6th
2017	Pat Kirkland	4-6	4-6	T-4th
2018	Pat Kirkland	6-5	6-4	4th
2019	Pat Kirkland	8-3	7-3	2nd
2020	Pat Kirkland	3-1	3-0	1st (South)
2021	Pat Kirkland	8-2	8-2	2nd
Quinn Sanders (MEC) (2022–2024)
2022	Quinn Sanders	6-5	6-4	T-4th
2023	Quinn Sanders	10-2	8-1	1st	L NCAA Division II Second Round	19
2024	Quinn Sanders	11-1	9-0	1st	L NCAA Division II First Round	15
Michael Tesch (MEC) (2025–present)
2025	Michael Tesch
Total:
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
†Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll.

Championships

Conference

Year	Conference	Coach	Record	Conference Record
1938	WVIAC	Thurman Ward	8-0-1	7-0-1
1942	WVIAC	Cebe Ross	6-1-2	4-0
1948	WVIAC	Eddie King	5-2-2	3-0-1
1950	WVIAC	Eddie King	10-0	5-0
1951	WVIAC	Eddie King	6-3-1	4-0
1953	WVIAC	Eddie King	6-4-1	4-0
1954	WVIAC	Eddie King	8-2	4-0
2023	MEC	Quinn Sanders	10-2	8–1
2024	MEC	Quinn Sanders	11–1	9-0

Sources:^[2]

Division

For the 2020 season, the Mountain East Conference decided to play a division format.

Year	Division	Coach	Opponent	CG Result
2020	MEC South	Pat Kirkland	Notre Dame	L 34-51

sources:^[3]

Top 25 finishes

Year	Coach	Record	AFCA rank
2009	Tony DeMeo	9-2	No. 23
2012	Pat Kirkland	9-2	No. 25
2015	Pat Kirkland	10-2	No. 20
2023	Quinn Sanders	10-2	No. 19
2024	Quinn Sanders	11-1	No. 15

Sources:^[2]

NCAA Division II playoffs

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2015	First Round	IUP	L, 21-47
2023	First Round Second Round	New Haven Kutztown	W, 52-44 L, 31-32
2024	First Round	Ashland	L, 38-40