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Christopher Newport Captains football

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Christopher Newport Captains football
First season2001
Athletic directorKyle McMullin
Head coachPaul Crowley
3rd season, 16–8 (.667)
StadiumTowneBank Stadium
(capacity: 4,200)
Field surfaceKentucky Bluegrass
LocationNewport News, Virginia
ConferenceNJAC
All-time record142–89 (.615)
Bowl record4–10 (.286)
Conference titles10
ColorsRoyal blue and silver[1]
   
MascotCaptain Chris
WebsiteCNU Athletics

The Christopher Newport Captains football team represents Christopher Newport University in the NCAA Division III, competing as football-only members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Christopher Newport (CNU) plays its home games at the 4,200 seat TowneBank Stadium, which is located on-campus in Newport News, Virginia. Founded in 2001, the Captains were led by head coach Matt Kelchner until 2016. Coach Art Link, only the second head coach in CNU football history took the helm starting with the 2017 football season. After 11 seasons with the USA South Athletic Conference, the Captains shifted to the NJAC to start the 2015 season.

History

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By the late 1990s, the prospect of bringing football to Christopher Newport was gaining momentum from both students and the administration alike. On December 16, 1999, the CNU Board of Visitors voted in favor of starting a football program to compete at the Division III level by the 2001 season.[2] By Spring 2000, the initial schedule was released for play in the Dixie Conference in 2001, and on May 9, 2000, Matt Kelchner was announced as the program's first head coach.[3] In the Captains history, the program has captured seven co-conference and four outright conference championship in addition to making eleven appearances in the Division III playoffs.

Seasons

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Christopher Newport Captains (Dixie Conference) (2001–2002)
2001 Matt Kelchner 5–4 Dixie Conference T–1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
2002 Matt Kelchner 6–5 Dixie Conference T–1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
Christopher Newport Captains (USA South Athletic Conference) (2003–2014)
2003 Matt Kelchner 8–3 USA South Conference T–1st L 2nd Round D-III Playoffs
2004 Matt Kelchner 9–3 USA South Conference T–1st L 2nd Round D-III Playoffs
2005 Matt Kelchner 6–4 USA South Conference T–3rd
2006 Matt Kelchner 8–3 USA South Conference T–1st L 2nd Round D-III Playoffs
2007 Matt Kelchner 7–3 USA South Conference 2nd
2008 Matt Kelchner 8–2 USA South Conference 1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
2009 Matt Kelchner 5–5 USA South Conference 3rd
2010 Matt Kelchner 6–5 USA South Conference T–1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
2011 Matt Kelchner 8–3 USA South Conference 1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
2012 Matt Kelchner 6–5 USA South Conference T–1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
2013 Matt Kelchner 8–2 USA South Conference T-3rd
2014 Matt Kelchner 8–4 USA South Conference 1st L 2nd Round D-III Playoffs
Christopher Newport Captains (New Jersey Athletic Conference) (2015–present)
2015 Matt Kelchner 4–6 New Jersey Athletic Conference T–7th
2016 Matt Kelchner 7–3 New Jersey Athletic Conference T–4th
2017 Art Link 5–5 New Jersey Athletic Conference T–5th
2018 Art Link 7–2 New Jersey Athletic Conference 4th
2019 Art Link 2–8 New Jersey Athletic Conference T–6th
2020 Art Link 0–2* New Jersey Athletic Conference 6th *Shortened season due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Art Link 5–5 New Jersey Athletic Conference 3rd
2022 Paul Crowley 7–3 New Jersey Athletic Conference 2nd
2023 Paul Crowley 7–4 New Jersey Athletic Conference 1st L 1st Round D-III Playoffs
Total: 142–89
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[4]

Playoffs

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Year Round Opponent Result
2001 First Round Widener L, 7–56
2002 First Round Washington & Jefferson L, 10–24
2003 First Round
Second Round
Muhlenberg
Bridgewater (VA)
W, 24–20
L, 3–26
2004 First Round
Second Round
Salisbury
Washington & Jefferson
W, 35–24
L, 14–24
2006 First Round Washington & Jefferson L, 23–27
2008 First Round Washington & Jefferson L, 29–35
2010 First Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 7–59
2011 First Round Kean L, 10–34
2012 First Round Mount Union L, 14–72
2014 First Round
Second Round
Delaware Valley
Widener
W, 29–26
L, 27–37
2023 First Round Randolph–Macon L, 20–28

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CNU Brand Expression". Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Barrett, Stephanie (December 17, 1999). "CNU agrees to tackle football". The Daily Press.
  3. ^ Williams, Jennifer L. (May 10, 2000). "CNU named first coach". The Daily Press.
  4. ^ "CNU Football History". CNU Athletics. Christopher Newport University Athletics. Retrieved 19 March 2023.