# Northwestern Red Raiders football

The Northwestern Red Raiders football team represents Northwestern College in college football in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Red Raiders are members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), fielding its team in the GPAC since 1992 when it was known as the Nebraska–Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC). The Red Raiders play their home games at Korver Field at De Valois Stadium in Orange City, Iowa.
The school's head coach is Matt McCarty, who took over the position for the 2016 season.

## Conference affiliations

* Two-year college (1950–1954)
* Tri-State Conference (1960–1980)
* NAIA Division II independent (1981–1987, 1991)
* Tri-State Athletic Conference (1988–1990)
* Nebraska–Iowa Athletic Conference / Great Plains Athletic Conference (1992–present)

## List of head coaches
### Key

Key to symbols in coaches list :
| General | General | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Postseason | Postseason |
| No. | Order of coaches | GC | Games coached | CW | Conference wins | PW | Postseason wins |
| DC | Division championships | OW | Overall wins | CL | Conference losses | PL | Postseason losses |
| CC | Conference championships | OL | Overall losses | CT | Conference ties | PT | Postseason ties |
| NC | National championships | OT | Overall ties | C% | Conference winning percentage | | |
| † | Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame | O% | Overall winning percentage | | | | |

### Coaches

List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records and conference records :
| No. | Name | Season(s) | GC | OW | OL | OT | O% | CW | CL | CT | C% |
| 1 | Joe Welton | 1960–1966 | 54 | 17 | 36 | 1 | 0.324 | 12 | 30 | 0 | 0.286 |
| 2 | Larry Korver | 1967–1994 | 295 | 212 | 77 | 6 | 0.729 | 65 | 20 | 2 | 0.759 |
| 3 | Orv Otten | 1995–2008 | 150 | 105 | 45 | 0 | 0.700 | 78 | 36 | 0 | 0.684 |
| 4 | Kyle Achterhoff | 2009–2015 | 75 | 56 | 19 | 0 | 0.747 | 49 | 16 | 0 | 0.754 |
| 5 | Matt McCarty | 2016–present | 85 | 67 | 18 | 0 | 0.788 | 52 | 12 | 0 | 0.813 |

## Year-by-year results

| National champions | Conference champions | Bowl game berth | Playoff berth |
| Season | Year | Head coach | Association | Division | Conference | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Postseason | Final ranking |
| Season | Year | Head coach | Association | Division | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | | | Postseason | Final ranking |
| Season | Year | Head coach | Association | Division | Conference | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish | Win | Loss | Tie | Postseason | Final ranking |
| Northwestern Red Raiders |||||||||||||||
| 1950 | 1950 | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1951 | 1951 | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1952 | 1952 | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1953 | 1953 | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | 8 | 0 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1954 | 1954 | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | Two year college (does not reflect in overall record) | 7 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1960 | 1960 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1961 | 1961 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1962 | 1962 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1963 | 1963 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1964 | 1964 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 6 | 2 | 0 | T–2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1965 | 1965 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 2 | 6 | 0 | T–6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1966 | 1966 | Joe Welton | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7th | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1967 | 1967 | Larry Korver | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7th | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — |
| 1968 | 1968 | Larry Korver | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1969 | 1969 | Larry Korver | NAIA | — | Tri-State | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1970 | 1970 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1971 | 1971 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1st | 4 | 1 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1972 | 1972 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | L NAIA Division II Championship | — |
| 1973 | 1973 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | W NAIA Division II Championship | — |
| 1974 | 1974 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1975 | 1975 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 7 | 2 | 1 | T–1st | 3 | 1 | 0 | Conference co-champions | — |
| 1976 | 1976 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1st | 4 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1977 | 1977 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1st | 2 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1978 | 1978 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 2 | 0 | 0 | L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal | — |
| 1979 | 1979 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 2 | 0 | 0 | L NAIA Division II Championship | — |
| 1980 | 1980 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1st | 2 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1981 | 1981 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1982 | 1982 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 12 | 1 | 0 | | | | | L NAIA Division II Semifinal | — |
| 1983 | 1983 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 14 | 0 | 0 | | | | | W NAIA Division II Championship | — |
| 1984 | 1984 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 11 | 2 | 0 | | | | | L NAIA Division II Championship | — |
| 1985 | 1985 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 9 | 1 | 1 | | | | | L NAIA Division II Semifinal | — |
| 1986 | 1986 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 8 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1987 | 1987 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1988 | 1988 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State Athletic | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 4 | 0 | 0 | L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal | — |
| 1989 | 1989 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State Athletic | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2nd | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1990 | 1990 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Tri-State Athletic | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2nd | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1991 | 1991 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | Independent | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1992 | 1992 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | NIAC | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 1 | L NAIA Division II First Round | — |
| 1993 | 1993 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | NIAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5th | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1994 | 1994 | Larry Korver | NAIA | Division II | NIAC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 6 | 0 | 0 | L NAIA Division II Semifinal | — |
| 1995 | 1995 | Orv Otten | NAIA | Division II | NIAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1996 | 1996 | Orv Otten | NAIA | Division II | NIAC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 5 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal | — |
| 1997 | 1997 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | NIAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T–3rd | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1998 | 1998 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | NIAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | T–3rd | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1999 | 1999 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | NIAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | T–3rd | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2000 | 2000 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 9 | 4 | 0 | T–1st | 6 | 2 | 0 | L NAIA Semifinal | 4 |
| 2001 | 2001 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T–5th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2002 | 2002 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T–5th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2003 | 2003 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 9 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 7 |
| 2004 | 2004 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4th | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2005 | 2005 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2006 | 2006 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 9 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 6 |
| 2007 | 2007 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 8 | 2 | 0 | T–2nd | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | 15 |
| 2008 | 2008 | Orv Otten | NAIA | — | GPAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | T–3rd | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 19 |
| 2009 | 2009 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4th | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 25 |
| 2010 | 2010 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 |
| 2011 | 2011 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | T–2nd | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2012 | 2012 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | 7 | 2 | 0 | L NAIA First Round | 12 |
| 2013 | 2013 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 8 | 3 | 0 | T–2nd | 7 | 2 | 0 | L NAIA First Round | 13 |
| 2014 | 2014 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | T–1st | 8 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA First Round | 12 |
| 2015 | 2015 | Kyle Achterhoff | NAIA | — | GPAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T–4th | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2016 | 2016 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2017 | 2017 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 7 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 8 |
| 2018 | 2018 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 8 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA First Round | 12 |
| 2019 | 2019 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 8 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA First Round | 10 |
| 2020 | 2020 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 8 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA Championship | 2 |
| 2021 | 2021 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 9 | 1 | 0 | L NAIA Semifinal | 4 |
| 2022 | 2022 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | 13 | 1 | 0 | T–1st | 9 | 1 | 0 | W NAIA Championship | 1 |
| 2023 | 2023 | Matt McCarty | NAIA | — | GPAC | | | | | | | | — | — |