Western Illinois Leathernecks football

History

Western Illinois had an unofficial football team in 1902, the year the school was established. The team played four games against regional high schools and the Western Illinois Normal & Business Institute going 2–2. In 1903, the school formed an athletic association for the fall football season, which is considered the official beginning of Western Illinois football by the school.

The team adopted its nickname in 1927 when coach Ray Hanson, a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps, asked the U.S. Navy for permission to use the Corps' Fighting Leathernecks nickname and logo for his team. Western Illinois is the only college which officially takes its nickname from a branch of the U.S. military.

From 2008 through 2023, the Leathernecks were members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The football team joined the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2024. The other Leathernecks athletic programs transitioned to the OVC one year prior, on July 1, 2023.

Conference affiliations

Championships

Conference championships

† Co-championship

Playoffs and bowls

Playoffs

*Note: Since 1981, the NCAA Division I-AA/Division I FCS Playoffs Regional Championships were commonly referred to as the Boardwalk Bowl (East Region Championship), Pecan Bowl (Midwest Region Championship), Grantland Rice Bowl (South Region Championship), and Camellia Bowl (West Region Championship).

Bowl games

Head coaches

† Acting head coach first seven games of 2008 season and last eight games of 2009 season.

Season records

: Adjusted record is 0–8 (3 wins vacated). After the season Western was forced to vacate their wins due to an ineligible player.

Individual accomplishments

Award winners

• Walter Payton Award finalists

• :Paul Singer – 1988 . . . 2nd

• :Aaron Stecker – 1997...2nd

• :Charles Tharp – 2000...8th

• :Russ Michna – 2003...6th

• :Herb Donaldson – 2007...13th

• :Herb Donaldson – 2008...3rd

• Buck Buchanan Award

• :James Milton – 1998

• :Edgerton Hartwell – 2000

• Buck Buchanan Award finalists

• :Cyron Brown – 1997...3rd

• :Edgerton Hartwell – 1999...5th

• :Lee Russell – 2002...6th

• :Lee Russell – 2003...5th

• :Jason Williams – 2008...4th

• :Kyle Glazier – 2010...T-2nd

• :Brett Taylor – 2016...7th

• :Brett Taylor – 2017...2nd

• :Darius Joiner – 2021...6th

• Eddie Robinson Award finalists

• :Randy Ball – 1997...6th

• :Randy Ball – 1998...5th

• :Don Patterson – 2000...13th

• :Don Patterson – 2002...3rd

• :Mark Hendrickson – 2010...2nd

College Football Hall of Fame members

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 13, 2026.

Notable former players

Notable alumni

• Jaelon Acklin
• Don Beebe
• David Bowens
• Fabien Bownes
• Sam Clemons
• Bryan Cox
• Booker Edgerson
• Larry Garron
• Don Greco
• Rodney Harrison
• Edgerton Hartwell
• Frisman Jackson
• Leroy Jackson
• William James
• Rob Lazeo
• Lance Lenoir
• Lamar McGriggs
• Russ Michna
• Red Miller
• Dennis Morgan
• J. R. Niklos
• Khalen Saunders
• Mike Scifres
• Rich Seubert
• Paul Singer
• Aaron Stecker
• John Teerlinck
• Marco Thomas
• Mike Wagner
• Jason Williams
• Frank Winters

References

References

1. "Western Illinois Athletics Leathernecks Football". goleathernecks.com.
2. "Western Illinois Leathernecks College Football Clubhouse". [[ESPN]].
3. "Western Illinois Football Record Book". Western Illinois University Athletics.
4. "The Leatherneck Nickname". Western Illinois University Athletics.
5. [https://goleathernecks.com/news/2023/5/12/athletics-department-leatherneck-athletics-moving-to-ohio-valley-conference-for-all-sports.aspx "Leatherneck Athletics Moving to Ohio Valley Conference for All Sports," Western Illinois University Athletics, Friday, May 12, 2023.] Retrieved May 12, 2023.
6. "Missouri Valley Football Conference Records". Missouri Valley Football Conference.
7. "Western Illinois Football Record Book". goleathernecks.com.
8. "Darrell Mudra (2000) – Hall of Fame".
9. "Western Illinois Leathernecks Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com.