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1908 None 0-1-0
1916 George Palfreyman 2-5-0 1917 George Palfreyman 0-7-0 1918 None 0-1-0
1919 None 0-4-0
1920 Robert Rice 0-2-0
1921 Russell Sprong 2-6-0
1922 Eugene Maynor 4-4-1
1923 Eugene Maynor 3-3-1
1924 H.F. Lawrence 6-1-1
1925 H.F. Lawrence 7-0-1
1926 H.F. Lawrence 6-2-0
1927 E.A. Davis 1-7-0
1928 E.A. Davis 5-3-1
1929 E.A. Davis 3-2-3
1930 E.A. Davis 4-5-1
1931 E.A. Davis 9-0-0
1932 E.A. Davis 4-4-1
1933 E.A. Davis 1-8-0
1934 E.A. Davis 4-5-0
1935 E.A. Davis 3-5-1
1936 E.A. Davis 4-4-1
1937 Ryland Milner 2-5-2
1938 Ryland Milner 9-0-0
1939 Ryland Milner 9-0-0
1940 Ryland Milner 7-2-0
1941 Ryland Milner 6-2-1
1942 Ryland Milner 4-2-1
1943 Ryland Milner 5-1-1
1944 Ryland Milner 7-0-0
1945 No Football/World War II

1946 Ryland Milner 4-3-0
1947 Ryland Milner 5-2-2
1948 Ryland Milner 6-2-0
1949 Ryland Milner 5-2-1
1950 Ryland Milner 3-5-1
1951 Ryland Milner 2-6-1
1952 Ryland Milner 6-3-0
1953 Ryland Milner 3-4-1
1954 Ryland Milner 2-6-0
1955 Ryland Milner 2-5-1
1956 Ryland Milner 2-7-0
1957 Ryland Milner 1-6-1
1958 Paul Turner 0-8-0
1959 Paul Turner 3-3-2
1960 Earl Baker 5-4-0
1961 Earl Baker 2-7-0
1962 Earl Baker 0-9-0
1963 Ivan Schottel 3-5-1
1964 Ivan Schottel 6-3-0
1965 Ivan Schottel 6-3-0
1966 Ivan Schottel 4-5-0
1967 Ivan Schottel 3-6-0
1968 Ivan Schottel 0-9-0
1969 Ivan Schottel 3-6-0
1970 Ivan Schottel 2-8-0
1971 Gladden Dye 4-5-0
1972 Gladden Dye 7-3-0
1973 Gladden Dye 6-4-0
1974 Gladden Dye 8-2-0
1975 Gladden Dye 7-3-0
1976 James Redd 8-2-0
 

1977 James Redd 5-5-1
1978 James Redd 0-11-0
1979 James Redd 6-5-0
1980 James Redd 2-8-0
1981 James Redd 6-4-0
1982 James Redd 2-7-1
1983 Vern Thomsen 5-6-0
1984 Vern Thomsen 10-2-0
1985 Vern Thomsen 4-6-1
1986 Vern Thomsen 2-9-0
1987 Vern Thomsen 4-7-0
1988 Bud Elliott 2-9-0
1989 Bud Elliott 9-3-0
1990 Bud Elliott 2-8-1
1991 Bud Elliott 5-6-0
1992 Bud Elliott 6-5-0
1993 Bud Elliott 3-8-0
1994 Mel Tjeerdsma 0-11
1995 Mel Tjeerdsma 6-5
1996 Mel Tjeerdsma 11-2
1997 Mel Tjeerdsma 12-1
1998 Mel Tjeerdsma 15-0
1999 Mel Tjeerdsma 14-1
2000 Mel Tjeerdsma 11-1
2001 Mel Tjeerdsma 7-4
2002 Mel Tjeerdsma 12-1
2003 Mel Tjeerdsma 8-3
2004 Mel Tjeerdsma 11-2
2005 Mel Tjeerdsma 11-4
2006 Mel Tjeerdsma 14-1
2007 Mel Tjeerdsma 12-2
2008 Mel Tjeerdsma 13-2
87 Seasons 465-386-32

Coaches Overall Record
No Coach (1908, 1916-17) 0-6-0 .000
George Palfreyman (1918-19) 2-12-0 .143
Robert Rice (1920) 0-2-0 .000
Russell Sprong (1921) 2-6-0 .250
Eugene Maynor (1922-23) 7-7-2 .50
0H.F. Lawrence (1924-26) 19-3-2 .791
E.A. Davis (1927-36) 38-43-8 .472
Ryland Milner (1937-57) 90-63-13 .581
Paul Turner (1958-59) 3-11-2 .250
Earl Baker (1960-62) 7-20-0 .259
Ivan Schottel (1963-70) 27-45-1 .375
Gladden Dye (1971-75) 32-17-0 .653
James Redd (1976-82) 29-42-2 .404
Vern Thomsen (1983-87) 25-30-1 .455
Bud Elliott (1988-93) 27-39-1 .410
Mel Tjeerdsma (1994-pres.) 143-39-0 .771

 

Coaching Facts

  • Current head coach Mel Tjeerdsma’s .785 winning percentage ranks him second all-time among Northwest coaches. H.F. Lawrence put together an .791 winning percentage in his three seasons as the Bearcats’ mentor. Lawrence compiled a 19-3-2 record from 1924 through 1926.
     

  • Northwest has had 15 head football coaches in its history. Of those 15, only four of them have had winning career records - H.F. Lawrence, Ryland Milner, Gladden Dye and Mel Tjeerdsma.
     

  • Only three coaches in Northwest’s history have ever led Northwest to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Vern Thomsen led the Bearcats to their first-ever playoff appearance in 1984, a 28-15 loss at Nebraska-Omaha. Bud Elliott took Northwest back to the playoffs in 1989, but suffered a 28-7 setback at Pittsburg State. Mel Tjeerdsma is the only ’Cat mentor to lead Northwest to multiple playoff appearances, coach Northwest to a victory in a playoff game, host a playoff game at Bearcat Stadium and, of course, win a national championship.