Charleston Golden Eagles football

The University of Charleston first fielded a football team in 1904, when the school was known as Morris Harvey College. The program competed as an independent before joining the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) in 1924.

The 1950 team finished undefeated at 10–0 and defeated Emory and Henry 35–14 in the 1951 Tangerine Bowl. Under head coach Eddie King, the Golden Eagles won five WVIAC championships between 1948 and 1954, including an extended conference winning streak that began after a loss to West Virginia Tech in 1949 and continued without another conference defeat through the end of the 1956 season.^[4] The university discontinued the football program following the 1956 season.

The 1950 Golden Eagles are recognized by the university as the “Unofficial Small College National Champions,” the only team in school history to receive a national designation.^[5]

On November 19, 2002, the university announced that after a 47-year hiatus, football would be reinstated for the 2003 season, with the school rejoining the WVIAC and competing at the NCAA Division II level. Charleston played its first football game since 1956 against rival West Virginia Tech at Laidley Field, falling 17–21. Following the dissolution of the WVIAC in 2012, Charleston became a charter member of the newly formed Mountain East Conference (MEC) in 2013.

Under head coach Pat Kirkland, who took over in 2011, the Golden Eagles recorded a breakout season in 2015, finishing 10–2 and earning the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II Football Championship, placing No. 20 in the final national poll.^[6] Kirkland led the program to six MEC runner-up finishes before departing for Jacksonville State following the 2021 season. Former UC player and assistant coach Quinn Sanders was hired in 2022.

The 2023 team finished 10–2, reached No. 19 in the national rankings, and captured the university's first MEC championship, securing its first NCAA postseason appearance since 2015. Charleston defeated New Haven in the first round before falling to Kutztown. The 2024 squad completed an undefeated regular season, climbed as high as No. 6 nationally, and averaged 43.9 points per game.^[7] Junior running back Chavon Wright rushed for 2,235 yards and an NCAA Division II-record 38 rushing touchdowns, finishing as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy.^[8] The team finished No. 15 following a first-round playoff loss to Ashland.

Following the 2024 season, head coach Quinn Sanders stepped down to become the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois. Michael Tesch was named head coach for the 2025 campaign. The Golden Eagles entered the year ranked No. 14 nationally and finished 8–3, earning a share of the MEC title.^[9]

• Independent (1904–1923)
• West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1924–1956)
  • Football program discontinued after 1956 and reinstated for 2003
• Independent (2003–2004)
• West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (2005–2012)
• Mountain East Conference (2013–present)

Since its inception in 1904, Charleston has had 21 head coaches.^[4]

The 1950 Golden Eagles remain the only squad in school history to complete an undefeated season, finishing 10–0 and capping the year with a 35–14 victory over Emory and Henry in the 1951 Tangerine Bowl.

As of the end of the 2025 season, Charleston has ended the season ranked five times in either the AFCA poll or D2Football.com rankings.^[update]

† D2football.com rankings began in 2019.

The Charleston Golden Eagles football program has produced numerous standout players and coaches throughout its history.

• • Note: The University of Charleston, then known as Morris Harvey College, discontinued its football program after the 1956 season and reinstated it in 2003.

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