The Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team competes as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, representing the University of Minnesota in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.Minnesota was one of seven original founding members of the Big Ten Conference, then known as the Western Conference, in 1896. The Big Ten Conference introduced divisional play in 2011; the divisional winners advance to the Big Ten Championship Game to determine the conference champion.
Since the team's first season in 1882, the Gophers have participated in more than 1,250 officially sanctioned games, including 20 bowl games, and have finished in the top 25 of the national polls 16 times. Minnesota claims seven national championships, most recently a consensus national championship in 1960, and has won at least a share of the conference championship 18 times, most recently in 1967.
Seasons
| Year | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches | AP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent (1882) | |||||||||
| 1882 | No coach | 1–1 | |||||||
| Thomas Peebles (Independent) (1883) | |||||||||
| 1883 | Thomas Peebles | 1–2 | |||||||
| 1884 | No team | ||||||||
| 1885 | No team | ||||||||
| Frederick S. Jones (Independent) (1886–1888) | |||||||||
| 1886 | Frederick S. Jones | 0–2 | |||||||
| 1887 | Frederick S. Jones | 2–0 | |||||||
| 1888 | Frederick S. Jones | 1–1 | |||||||
| Al McCord, D. W. McCord, Frank Heffelfinger, Billy Morse (Independent) (1889) | |||||||||
| 1889 | Multiple coaches | 3–1 | |||||||
| Tom Eck (Independent) (1890) | |||||||||
| 1890 | Tom Eck | 5–1–1 | |||||||
| Edward Moulton (Independent) (1891) | |||||||||
| 1891 | Edward Moulton | 3–1–1 | |||||||
| Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the Northwest (1892) | |||||||||
| 1892 | No coach | 4–1 | 3–0 | 1st | |||||
| Wallace Winter (IAANW) (1893) | |||||||||
| 1893 | Wallace Winter | 6–0 | 3–0 | 1st | |||||
| Thomas Cochran (Independent) (1894) | |||||||||
| 1894 | Thomas Cochran | 3–1 | |||||||
| Pudge Heffelfinger (Independent) (1895) | |||||||||
| 1895 | Pudge Heffelfinger | 7–3 | |||||||
| Alexander Jerrems (Western Conference) (1896–1897) | |||||||||
| 1896 | Alexander Jerrems | 8–2 | 1–2 | 5th | |||||
| 1897 | Alexander Jerrems | 4–4 | 0–3 | 7th | |||||
| John Minds (Western Conference) (1898) | |||||||||
| 1898 | John Minds | 4–5 | 1–2 | 5th | |||||
| Jack Harrison & William C. Leary (Western Conference) (1899) | |||||||||
| 1899 | Harrison & Leary | 6–3–2 | 0–3 | T–6th | |||||
| Henry L. Williams (Western Conference) (1900–1921) | |||||||||
| 1900 | Henry L. Williams | 10–0–2 | 3–0–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1901 | Henry L. Williams | 9–1–1 | 3–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1902 | Henry L. Williams | 9–2–1 | 3–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1903 | Henry L. Williams | 14–0–1 | 3–0–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1904 | Henry L. Williams | 13–0 | 3–0 | T–1st | |||||
| 1905 | Henry L. Williams | 10–1 | 2–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1906 | Henry L. Williams | 4–1 | 2–0 | T–1st | |||||
| 1907 | Henry L. Williams | 2–2–1 | 0–1–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1908 | Henry L. Williams | 3–2–1 | 0–2 | T–6th | |||||
| 1909 | Henry L. Williams | 6–1 | 3–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1910 | Henry L. Williams | 6–1 | 2–0 | T–1st | |||||
| 1911 | Henry L. Williams | 6–0–1 | 3–0–1 | 1st | |||||
| 1912 | Henry L. Williams | 4–3 | 2–2 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1913 | Henry L. Williams | 5–2 | 2–1 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1914 | Henry L. Williams | 6–1 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1915 | Henry L. Williams | 6–0–1 | 3–0–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1916 | Henry L. Williams | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1917 | Henry L. Williams | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1918 | Henry L. Williams | 5–2–1 | 2–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1919 | Henry L. Williams | 4–2–1 | 3–2 | T–4th | |||||
| 1920 | Henry L. Williams | 1–6 | 0–6 | T–9th | |||||
| 1921 | Henry L. Williams | 3–4 | 2–4 | T–6th | |||||
| William H. Spaulding (Big Ten Conference) (1922–1924) | |||||||||
| 1922 | William H. Spaulding | 3–3–1 | 2–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1923 | William H. Spaulding | 5–1–1 | 2–1–1 | 4th | |||||
| 1924 | William H. Spaulding | 3–3–2 | 1–2–1 | 6th | |||||
| Clarence Spears (Big Ten Conference) (1925–1929) | |||||||||
| 1925 | Clarence Spears | 5–2–1 | 1–1–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1926 | Clarence Spears | 5–3 | 2–2 | T–6th | |||||
| 1927 | Clarence Spears | 6–0–2 | 3–0–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1928 | Clarence Spears | 6–2 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1929 | Clarence Spears | 6–2 | 3–2 | T–3rd | |||||
| Fritz Crisler (Big Ten Conference) (1930–1931) | |||||||||
| 1930 | Fritz Crisler | 3–4–1 | 1–3 | T–6th | |||||
| 1931 | Fritz Crisler | 7–3 | 3–2 | 5th | |||||
| Bernie Bierman (Big Ten Conference) (1932–1941) | |||||||||
| 1932 | Bernie Bierman | 5–3 | 2–3 | 6th | |||||
| 1933 | Bernie Bierman | 4–0–4 | 2–0–4 | T–1st | |||||
| 1934 | Bernie Bierman | 8–0 | 5–0 | T–1st | |||||
| 1935 | Bernie Bierman | 8–0 | 5–0 | T–1st | |||||
| 1936 | Bernie Bierman | 7–1 | 4–1 | T–2nd | 1 | ||||
| 1937 | Bernie Bierman | 6–2 | 5–0 | 1st | 5 | ||||
| 1938 | Bernie Bierman | 6–2 | 4–1 | 1st | 10 | ||||
| 1939 | Bernie Bierman | 3–4–1 | 2–3–1 | 7th | |||||
| 1940 | Bernie Bierman | 8–0 | 6–0 | 1st | 1 | ||||
| 1941 | Bernie Bierman | 8–0 | 5–0 | 1st | 1 | ||||
| George Hauser (Big Ten Conference) (1942–1944) | |||||||||
| 1942 | George Hauser | 5–4 | 3–3 | T–5th | 19 | ||||
| 1943 | George Hauser | 5–4 | 2–3 | 5th | |||||
| 1944 | George Hauser | 5–3–1 | 3–2–1 | 4th | |||||
| Bernie Bierman (Big Ten Conference) (1945–1950) | |||||||||
| 1945 | Bernie Bierman | 4–5 | 1–5 | T–8th | |||||
| 1946 | Bernie Bierman | 5–4 | 3–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1947 | Bernie Bierman | 6–3 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1948 | Bernie Bierman | 7–2 | 5–2 | 3rd | 16 | ||||
| 1949 | Bernie Bierman | 7–2 | 4–2 | 3rd | 8 | ||||
| 1950 | Bernie Bierman | 1–7–1 | 1–4–1 | 7th | |||||
| Wes Fesler (Big Ten Conference) (1951–1953) | |||||||||
| 1951 | Wes Fesler | 2–6–1 | 1–4–1 | 7th | |||||
| 1952 | Wes Fesler | 4–3–2 | 3–1–2 | T–4th | |||||
| 1953 | Wes Fesler | 4–4–1 | 3–3–1 | T–5th | |||||
| Murray Warmath (Big Ten Conference) (1954–1971) | |||||||||
| 1954 | Murray Warmath | 7–2 | 4–2 | 4th | 20 | ||||
| 1955 | Murray Warmath | 3–6 | 2–5 | 8th | |||||
| 1956 | Murray Warmath | 6–1–2 | 4–1–2 | T–2nd | 9 | 12 | |||
| 1957 | Murray Warmath | 4–5 | 3–5 | 8th | |||||
| 1958 | Murray Warmath | 1–8 | 1–6 | 9th | |||||
| 1959 | Murray Warmath | 2–7 | 1–6 | 10th | |||||
| 1960 | Murray Warmath | 8–2 | 5–1 | T–1st | L Rose | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1961 | Murray Warmath | 8–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | W Rose | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1962 | Murray Warmath | 6–2–1 | 5–2 | 2nd | 10 | 10 | |||
| 1963 | Murray Warmath | 3–6 | 2–5 | 9th | |||||
| 1964 | Murray Warmath | 5–4 | 4–3 | T–4th | |||||
| 1965 | Murray Warmath | 5–4–1 | 5–2 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1966 | Murray Warmath | 4–5–1 | 3–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1967 | Murray Warmath | 8–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | 14 | ||||
| 1968 | Murray Warmath | 6–4 | 5–2 | T–3rd | 18 | ||||
| 1969 | Murray Warmath | 4–5–1 | 4–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1970 | Murray Warmath | 3–6–1 | 2–4–1 | 7th | |||||
| 1971 | Murray Warmath | 4–7 | 3–5 | T–6th | |||||
| Cal Stoll (Big Ten Conference) (1972–1978) | |||||||||
| 1972 | Cal Stoll | 4–7 | 4–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1973 | Cal Stoll | 7–4 | 6–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1974 | Cal Stoll | 4–7 | 2–6 | T–7th | |||||
| 1975 | Cal Stoll | 6–5 | 3–5 | T–7th | |||||
| 1976 | Cal Stoll | 6–5 | 4–4 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1977 | Cal Stoll | 7–5 | 4–4 | 5th | L Hall of Fame Classic | ||||
| 1978 | Cal Stoll | 5–6 | 4–4 | 5th | |||||
| Joe Salem (Big Ten Conference) (1979–1983) | |||||||||
| 1979 | Joe Salem | 4–6–1 | 3–5–1 | 6th | |||||
| 1980 | Joe Salem | 5–6 | 4–5 | 5th | |||||
| 1981 | Joe Salem | 6–5 | 4–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1982 | Joe Salem | 3–8 | 1–8 | 10th | |||||
| 1983 | Joe Salem | 1–10 | 0–9 | 10th | |||||
| Lou Holtz (Big Ten Conference) (1984–1985) | |||||||||
| 1984 | Lou Holtz | 4–7 | 3–6 | 8th | |||||
| 1985 | Lou Holtz | 7–5 | 4–4 | 6th | W Independence | ||||
| John Gutekunst (Big Ten Conference) (1985–1991) | |||||||||
| 1986 | John Gutekunst | 6–6 | 5–3 | T–3rd | L Liberty | ||||
| 1987 | John Gutekunst | 6–5 | 3–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1988 | John Gutekunst | 2–7–2 | 0–6–2 | T–9th | |||||
| 1989 | John Gutekunst | 6–5 | 4–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1990 | John Gutekunst | 6–5 | 5–3 | 6th | |||||
| 1991 | John Gutekunst | 2–9 | 1–7 | 10th | |||||
| Jim Wacker (Big Ten Conference) (1992–1996) | |||||||||
| 1992 | Jim Wacker | 2–9 | 2–6 | 10th | |||||
| 1993 | Jim Wacker | 4–7 | 3–5 | T–8th | |||||
| 1994 | Jim Wacker | 3–8 | 1–7 | 11th | |||||
| 1995 | Jim Wacker | 3–8 | 1–7 | 10th | |||||
| 1996 | Jim Wacker | 4–7 | 1–7 | T–9th | |||||
| Glen Mason (Big Ten Conference) (1997–2006) | |||||||||
| 1997 | Glen Mason | 3–9 | 1–7 | T–9th | |||||
| 1998 | Glen Mason | 5–6 | 2–6 | T–7th | |||||
| 1999 | Glen Mason | 8–4 | 5–3 | T–4th | L Sun | 17 | 18 | ||
| 2000 | Glen Mason | 6–6 | 4–4 | T–5th | L MicronPC.com | ||||
| 2001 | Glen Mason | 4–7 | 2–6 | T–10th | |||||
| 2002 | Glen Mason | 8–5 | 3–5 | 7th | W Music City | ||||
| 2003 | Glen Mason | 10–3 | 5–3 | T–4th | W Sun | 17 | 20 | ||
| 2004 | Glen Mason | 7–5 | 3–5 | 8th | W Music City | ||||
| 2005 | Glen Mason | 7–5 | 4–4 | 7th | L Music City | ||||
| 2006 | Glen Mason | 6–7 | 3–5 | T–6th | L Insight | ||||
| Tim Brewster (Big Ten Conference) (2007–2010) | |||||||||
| 2007 | Tim Brewster | 1–11 | 0–8 | 11th | |||||
| 2008 | Tim Brewster | 7–6 | 3–5 | T–6th | L Insight | ||||
| 2009 | Tim Brewster | 6–7 | 3–5 | 8th | L Insight | ||||
| 2010 | Tim Brewster | 3–9 | 2–6 | T–9th | |||||
| Jerry Kill (Big Ten Conference) (2011–2015) | |||||||||
| 2011 | Jerry Kill | 3–9 | 2–6 | 6th (Legends) | |||||
| 2012 | Jerry Kill | 6–7 | 2–6 | T–5th (Legends) | L Texas | ||||
| 2013 | Jerry Kill | 8–5 | 4–4 | 4th (Legends) | L Texas | ||||
| 2014 | Jerry Kill | 8–5 | 5–3 | T–2nd (West) | L Citrus | ||||
| 2015 | Jerry Kill | 6–7 | 2–6 | T–5th (West) | W Quick Lane | ||||
| Tracy Claeys (Big Ten Conference) (2015–2016) | |||||||||
| 2016 | Tracy Claeys | 9–4 | 5–4 | T–4th (West) | W Holiday | ||||
| P. J. Fleck (Big Ten Conference) (2017–present) | |||||||||
| 2017 | P. J. Fleck | 5–7 | 2–7 | 6th (West) | |||||
| 2018 | P. J. Fleck | 7–6 | 3–6 | T–5th (West) | W Quick Lane | ||||
| 2019 | P. J. Fleck | 11–2 | 7–2 | T–1st (West) | W Outback | 10 | 10 | ||
| 2020 | P. J. Fleck | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4th (West) | |||||
| 2021 | P. J. Fleck | 9–4 | 6–3 | T–2nd (West) | W Guaranteed Rate | ||||
| 2022 | P. J. Fleck | 9–4 | 5–4 | T–2nd (West) | W Pinstripe | ||||
| 2023 | P. J. Fleck | 6–7 | 3–6 | T–4th (West) | W Quick Lane | ||||
| Total: | 737–544–44 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Notes
- After Frederick S. Jones stopped actively coaching, the team used game coaches for one season instead of finding a replacement for him
- ^ Holtz left Minnesota for Notre Dame before the Independence Bowl, which was coached by John Gutekunst.
- ^ They were led by fourth-year head coach Tim Brewster until his firing on October 17, 2010, the result of 1–6 start. Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Horton was tapped as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
- ^ Took a two–game leave of absence for epilepsy treatment during the 2013 season, but all games are credited to his record. Tracy Claeys served as the interim head coach.
- ^ Jerry Kill was head coach for the first seven games of the season. Tracy Claeys was named interim head coach after Kill retired for health reasons on October 28, and had the "interim" tag removed on November 15. Minnesota credits the first seven games to Kill and the final five games to Claeys.
References
- http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/minn/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2012-FB-Media-Guide.pdf Archived September 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- "Big Ten Announces Football Division Alignments and 2011 and 2012 Conference Schedules". Big Ten.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today.com. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved June 10, 2012.