# Coast Guard Bears football

The Coast Guard Bears football team represents the United States Coast Guard Academy in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Bears are members of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), fielding its team in the NEWMAC since 2017. The Bears play their home games at Cadet Memorial Field in New London, Connecticut.
The team's head coach is C. C. Grant, who took over the position for the 2020 season.

## Conference affiliations

* Independent (1922–1923, 1926–1991)
* Freedom Football Conference (1992–2003)
* Liberty League (2004–2005)
* New England Football Conference (2006–2016)
* New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (2017–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, conference records, postseason records, championships and selected awards :
| No. | Name | Season(s) | GC | OW | OL | OT | O% | CW | CL | CT | C% | PW | PL | PT | DC | CC |
| 1 | R. V. Marron | 1922–1923 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | .000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | W. R. Richards | 1926–1929 | 27 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 0.315 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | Johnny Merriman | 1930–1945 | 121 | 46 | 66 | 9 | 0.417 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | Nelson Nitchman | 1946–1958 | 93 | 45 | 43 | 5 | 0.511 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | Otto Graham | 1959–1965; 1974–1975 | 77 | 44 | 32 | 1 | 0.578 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – |
| 6 | Frank Kapral | 1966–1967 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | .000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7 | Tad Schroeder | 1968–1973 | 60 | 29 | 31 | 0 | 0.483 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | Bill Hickey | 1976–1979 | 38 | 10 | 27 | 1 | 0.276 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9 | Larry Rutledge | 1980–1982 | 30 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 0.367 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | Bob Campiglia | 1983–1985 | 30 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0.524 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 11 | Thomas H. Bell | 1986–1992 | 62 | 35 | 27 | 0 | 0.565 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0.143 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 12 | Bill Schmitz | 1993–1996 | 39 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 0.513 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0.500 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 |
| 13 | Chuck Mills | 1997 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0.818 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 |
| 14 | Bob Estock | 1998 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0.111 | 0 | 6 | 0 | .000 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 15 | Bill George | 1999–2019 | 201 | 75 | 126 | 0 | 0.373 | 54 | 89 | 0 | 0.378 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | – |
| 16 | C. C. Grant | 2020–present | 31 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 0.323 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0.190 | – | – | – | – | – |

## 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 |
| Coast Guard Bears |||||||||||||||
| 1922 | 1922 | R. V. Marron | NCAA | — | Independent | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1923 | 1923 | R. V. Marron | NCAA | — | Independent | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| No team from 1924 to 1925 |||||||||||||||
| 1926 | 1926 | W. R. Richards | NCAA | — | Independent | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1927 | 1927 | W. R. Richards | NCAA | — | Independent | 1 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1928 | 1928 | W. R. Richards | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | — | — |
| 1929 | 1929 | W. R. Richards | NCAA | — | Independent | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1930 | 1930 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1931 | 1931 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1932 | 1932 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 1 | 3 | 2 | | | | | — | — |
| 1933 | 1933 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1934 | 1934 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 1 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1935 | 1935 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 2 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1936 | 1936 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 2 | 2 | 3 | | | | | — | — |
| 1937 | 1937 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1938 | 1938 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 2 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1939 | 1939 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 0 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1940 | 1940 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1941 | 1941 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1942 | 1942 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1943 | 1943 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1944 | 1944 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1945 | 1945 | Johnny Merriman | NCAA | — | Independent | 0 | 7 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1946 | 1946 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1947 | 1947 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | — | — |
| 1948 | 1948 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1949 | 1949 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 5 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1950 | 1950 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1951 | 1951 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 6 | 0 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1952 | 1952 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 5 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1953 | 1953 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1954 | 1954 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1955 | 1955 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1956 | 1956 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 2 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1957 | 1957 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 2 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1958 | 1958 | Nelson Nitchman | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1959 | 1959 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 3 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1960 | 1960 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 5 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1961 | 1961 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1962 | 1962 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 5 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1963 | 1963 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 8 | 1 | 0 | | | | | L Tangerine Bowl | — |
| 1964 | 1964 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 3 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1965 | 1965 | Otto Graham | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1966 | 1966 | Frank Kapral | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 0 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1967 | 1967 | Frank Kapral | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 0 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1968 | 1968 | Tad Schroeder | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1969 | 1969 | Tad Schroeder | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 2 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1970 | 1970 | Tad Schroeder | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 5 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1971 | 1971 | Tad Schroeder | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 8 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1972 | 1972 | Tad Schroeder | NCAA | College Division | Independent | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1973 | 1973 | Tad Schroeder | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 8 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1974 | 1974 | Otto Graham | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1975 | 1975 | Otto Graham | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 8 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1976 | 1976 | Bill Hickey | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 1 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1977 | 1977 | Bill Hickey | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 5 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1978 | 1978 | Bill Hickey | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1979 | 1979 | Bill Hickey | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 1 | 8 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1980 | 1980 | Larry Rutledge | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1981 | 1981 | Larry Rutledge | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1982 | 1982 | Larry Rutledge | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1983 | 1983 | Bob Campiglia | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1984 | 1984 | Bob Campiglia | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1985 | 1985 | Bob Campiglia | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1986 | 1986 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1987 | 1987 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1988 | 1988 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 9 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1989 | 1989 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 5 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1990 | 1990 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1991 | 1991 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | Independent | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1992 | 1992 | Thomas H. Bell | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8th | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1993 | 1993 | Bill Schmitz | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1994 | 1994 | Bill Schmitz | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5th | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1995 | 1995 | Bill Schmitz | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 6th | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1996 | 1996 | Bill Schmitz | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 8 | 3 | 0 | T–1st | 5 | 1 | 0 | L NCAA Division III First Round | — |
| 1997 | 1997 | Chuck Mills | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 6 | 0 | 0 | L NCAA Division III First Round | — |
| 1998 | 1998 | Bob Estock | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 1 | 8 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1999 | 1999 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 1 | 9 | 0 | T–6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2000 | 2000 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 2001 | 2001 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 2 | 7 | 0 | T–6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2002 | 2002 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 2 | 7 | 0 | 6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2003 | 2003 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 4 | 5 | 0 | T–3rd | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2004 | 2004 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | Liberty League | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8th | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 2005 | 2005 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | Liberty League | 2 | 7 | 0 | 8th | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 2006 | 2006 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1st (Bogan) | 7 | 0 | 0 | L ECAC North Atlantic Bowl | — |
| 2007 | 2007 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1st (Bogan) | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — |
| 2008 | 2008 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 3 | 6 | 0 | T–5th (Bogan) | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2009 | 2009 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4th (Bogan) | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2010 | 2010 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 2 | 7 | 0 | T–7th (Bogan) | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 | 2011 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 2 | 7 | 0 | 7th (Bogan) | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2012 | 2012 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3rd (Bogan) | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2013 | 2013 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 3 | 7 | 0 | T–5th | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2014 | 2014 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 3 | 7 | 0 | T–6th | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2015 | 2015 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4th | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2016 | 2016 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6th | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2017 | 2017 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 3 | 7 | 0 | T–6th | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 2018 | 2018 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | T–2nd | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 2019 | 2019 | Bill George | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T–5th | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2020–21 | 2020–21 | C. C. Grant | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 0 | 1 | 0 | n/a | | | | — | — |
| 2021 | 2021 | C. C. Grant | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 2022 | C. C. Grant | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 3 | 7 | 0 | T–6th | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2023 | C. C. Grant | NCAA | Division III | NEWMAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T-4th | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |