# List of Kent State Golden Flashes football seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Kent State Golden Flashes football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The Kent State fielded their first team in 1920 coached by Paul G. Chandler and are currently coached by Sean Lewis. They complete in the Mid-American Conference and the East division. They were previously a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference from 1932 through 1950.

## Seasons

Legend :
* $^†$ National Champions
* $^‡$ Conference Champions
* $^#$ Division Champions
* ^ Bowl game berth
* * Playoff berth
| Season | Coach | Conference | Conference Results | Conference Results | Conference Results | Conference Results | Season Results | Season Results | Season Results | Post-season result | Final Ranking | Final Ranking |
| Season | Coach | Conference | Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | Wins | Losses | Ties | Post-season result | AP | Coaches' |
| Kent State Golden Flashes |||||||||||||
| 1920 | Paul G. Chandler | Independent | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1921 | Paul G. Chandler | Independent | — | — | — | — | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | | |
| 1922 | Paul G. Chandler | Independent | — | — | — | — | 0 | 7 | — | — | | |
| 1923 | Frank Harsh | Independent | — | — | — | — | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1924 | Frank Harsh | Independent | — | — | — | — | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1925 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | | |
| 1926 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1927 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | | |
| 1928 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | | |
| 1929 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | | |
| 1930 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1931 | Merle E. Wagoner | Independent | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1932 | Merle E. Wagoner | Ohio Athletic Conference | 18th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1933 | Joe Begala | Ohio Athletic Conference | T–9th | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | | |
| 1934 | Joe Begala | Ohio Athletic Conference | 11th | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | | |
| 1935 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 16th | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1936 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 6th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1937 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 9th | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | | |
| 1938 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | T–8th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1939 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 13th | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | | |
| 1940 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 2nd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | | |
| 1941 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 12th | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | | |
| 1942 | Donald Starn | Ohio Athletic Conference | 7th | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1943 | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II |
| 1944 | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II |
| 1945 | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II | Kent State did not play football during the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons because of World War II |
| 1946 | Trevor J. Rees | Ohio Athletic Conference | 9th | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1947 | Trevor J. Rees | Ohio Athletic Conference | T–5th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1948 | Trevor J. Rees | Ohio Athletic Conference | 3rd | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | | |
| 1949 | Trevor J. Rees | Ohio Athletic Conference | 3rd | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1950 | Trevor J. Rees | Ohio Athletic Conference | 7th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1951 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | | |
| 1952 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | T–4th | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1953 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1954$^^$ | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 2nd | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Lost Refrigerator Bowl to Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, 7–19 | | |
| 1955 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | T–2nd | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | | |
| 1956 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1957 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 7th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1958 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 2nd | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | | |
| 1959 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | T–4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1960 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1961 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 7th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | | |
| 1962 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | 5th | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1963 | Trevor J. Rees | Mid-American Conference | T–6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | | |
| 1964 | Leo Strang | Mid-American Conference | 6th | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1965 | Leo Strang | Mid-American Conference | T–3rd | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | | |
| 1966 | Leo Strang | Mid-American Conference | 5th | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1967 | Leo Strang | Mid-American Conference | 6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1968 | Dave Puddington | Mid-American Conference | 6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | — | | |
| 1969 | Dave Puddington | Mid-American Conference | T–5th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1970 | Dave Puddington | Mid-American Conference | T–5th | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | | |
| 1971 | Don James | Mid-American Conference | 6th | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | | |
| 1972$^{‡^}$ | Don James | Mid-American Conference | 1st | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | Lost Tangerine Bowl to Tampa Spartans, 18–21 | | |
| 1973 | Don James | Mid-American Conference | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1974 | Don James | Mid-American Conference | T–4th | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1975 | Dennis Fitzgerald | Mid-American Conference | 8th | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | | |
| 1976 | Dennis Fitzgerald | Mid-American Conference | T–2nd | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1977 | Dennis Fitzgerald | Mid-American Conference | 6th | 5 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1978 | Ron Blackledge | Mid-American Conference | 8th | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | | |
| 1979 | Ron Blackledge | Mid-American Conference | 10th | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | | |
| 1980 | Ron Blackledge | Mid-American Conference | T–8th | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | | |
| 1981 | Ed Chlebek | Mid-American Conference | 7th | 3 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | | |
| 1982 | Ed Chlebek | Mid-American Conference | 10th | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | | |
| 1983 | Dick Scesniak | Mid-American Conference | 9th | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | | |
| 1984 | Dick Scesniak | Mid-American Conference | T–8th | 3 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | | |
| 1985 | Dick Scesniak | Mid-American Conference | 9th | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | | |
| 1986 | Glen Mason | Mid-American Conference | T–2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1987 | Glen Mason | Mid-American Conference | T–2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1988 | Dick Crum | Mid-American Conference | 7th | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1989 | Dick Crum | Mid-American Conference | 9th | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | | |
| 1990 | Dick Crum | Mid-American Conference | T–7th | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | | |
| 1991 | Pete Cordelli | Mid-American Conference | 9th | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | | |
| 1992 | Pete Cordelli | Mid-American Conference | 8th | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | | |
| 1993 | Pete Cordelli | Mid-American Conference | 10th | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | | |
| 1994 | Jim Corrigall | Mid-American Conference | 8th | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | | |
| 1995 | Jim Corrigall | Mid-American Conference | 10th | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | | |
| 1996 | Jim Corrigall | Mid-American Conference | 10th | 1 | 7 | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 1997 | Jim Corrigall | Mid-American Conference | T–4th (East) | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | 8 | — | — | | |
| 1998 | Dean Pees | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 0 | 8 | — | 0 | 11 | — | — | | |
| 1999 | Dean Pees | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 2 | 6 | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 2000 | Dean Pees | Mid-American Conference | 7th (East) | 1 | 7 | — | 1 | 10 | — | — | | |
| 2001 | Dean Pees | Mid-American Conference | T–3rd (East) | 5 | 3 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | | |
| 2002 | Dean Pees | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 1 | 7 | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 2003 | Dean Pees | Mid-American Conference | 4th (East) | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 7 | — | — | | |
| 2004 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | 4th (East) | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 6 | — | — | | |
| 2005 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 0 | 8 | — | 1 | 10 | — | — | | |
| 2006 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | 2nd (East) | 5 | 3 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | | |
| 2007 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | 7th (East) | 1 | 7 | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 2008 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | T–4th (East) | 3 | 5 | — | 4 | 8 | — | — | | |
| 2009 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | 4th (East) | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 7 | — | — | | |
| 2010 | Doug Martin | Mid-American Conference | 4th (East) | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 7 | — | — | | |
| 2011 | Darrell Hazell | Mid-American Conference | 3rd (East) | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 7 | — | — | | |
| 2012$^{#^}$ | Darrell Hazell | Mid-American Conference | 1st (East) | 8 | 0 | — | 11 | 3 | — | Lost MAC Championship Game to Northern Illinois Huskies, 37–44 Lost GoDaddy.com Bowl to Arkansas State Red Wolves, 13–17 | | |
| 2013 | Paul Haynes | Mid-American Conference | 5th (East) | 3 | 5 | — | 4 | 8 | — | — | | |
| 2014 | Paul Haynes | Mid-American Conference | 7th (East) | 1 | 6 | — | 2 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 2015 | Paul Haynes | Mid-American Conference | T-5th (East) | 2 | 6 | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 2016 | Paul Haynes | Mid-American Conference | 5th (East) | 2 | 6 | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | | |
| 2017 | Paul Haynes | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 1 | 7 | — | 2 | 10 | — | — | | |
| 2018 | Sean Lewis | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 1 | 7 | — | 2 | 10 | — | — | | |
| 2019 | Sean Lewis | Mid-American Conference | T-2nd (East) | 5 | 3 | — | 7 | 6 | — | Won Frisco Bowl over Utah State Aggies, 51–41 | | |
| 2020 | Sean Lewis | Mid-American Conference | T-2nd (East) | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | | |
| 2021 | Sean Lewis | Mid-American Conference | 1st (East) | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 7 | — | Lost MAC Championship Game to Northern Illinois Huskies, 23-41 Lost Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to Wyoming Cowboys, 38-52 | | |
| 2022 | Sean Lewis | Mid-American Conference | T-4th (East) | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 7 | — | — | | |
| 2023 | Kenni Burns | Mid-American Conference | 6th (East) | 0 | 8 | — | 1 | 11 | — | — | | |
| 2024 | Kenni Burns | Mid-American Conference | | | | — | | | — | — | | |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | — | — | — | 364 | 585 | 28 | (only includes regular season games) | (only includes regular season games) | (only includes regular season games) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 33 | 32 | 10 | — | — | — | (only includes Ohio Athletic Conference games) | (only includes Ohio Athletic Conference games) | (only includes Ohio Athletic Conference games) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 180 | 325 | 4 | — | — | — | (only includes Mid-American Conference games) | (only includes Mid-American Conference games) | (only includes Mid-American Conference games) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 0 | (only includes post-season games; 6 appearances) | (only includes post-season games; 6 appearances) | (only includes post-season games; 6 appearances) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 200 | 350 | 14 | 349 | 559 | 28 | (all games) | (all games) | (all games) |
| ♦ Denotes a tie for first place and conference co-champion |||||||||||||