# Plymouth State Panthers football

The Plymouth State Panthers football team represents Plymouth State University in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Panthers are members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, fielding its team in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference since 2013. The Panthers play their home games at Panther Field in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Their co-head coaches are Paul Castonia, who took over the position in 2003, and Devin Zeman who took over the position in 2020.

## Championships
### Conference championships

Plymouth State claims 14 conference titles, the most recent of which came in 2017.
| Year | Conference | Overall Record | Conference Record | Coach |
| 1981 | New England Football Conference | 9–1 | 9–0 | Jay Cottone |
| 1982 | New England Football Conference | 10–0 | 9–0 | Jay Cottone |
| 1983† | New England Football Conference | 9–2 | 8–1 | Jay Cottone |
| 1984 | New England Football Conference | 10–1 | 9–0 | Jay Cottone |
| 1985† | New England Football Conference | 8–3 | 8–1 | Jay Cottone |
| 1986 | New England Football Conference | 9–2–1 | 8–0–1 | Lou Desloges |
| 1987 | New England Football Conference | 10–1 | 5–0 | Lou Desloges |
| 1988 | New England Football Conference | 10–1 | 6–0 | Lou Desloges |
| 1990 | New England Football Conference | 9–2 | 5–0 | Lou Desloges |
| 1994† | Freedom Football Conference | 10–1 | 6–0 | Don Brown |
| 1995 | Freedom Football Conference | 9–1 | 7–0 | Don Brown |
| 2001† | Freedom Football Conference | 7–3 | 5–1 | Chris Rorke |
| 2008 | New England Football Conference | 10–2 | 7–0 | Paul Castonia |
| 2017† | Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference | 9–2 | 7–1 | Paul Castonia |
† Co-champions

### Division championships

Plymouth State claims 3 division titles, the most recent of which came in 1990.
| Year | Division | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record | Opponent | CG result |
| 1987 | NEFC North | Lou Desloges | 10–1 | 5–0 | Worcester State | W 40–0 |
| 1988 | NEFC North | Lou Desloges | 10–1 | 6–0 | Worcester State | W 62–0 |
| 1990 | NEFC North | Lou Desloges | 9–1 | 5–0 | Bridgewater State | W 26–7 |
† Co-champions

## Playoffs

The Panthers have made five appearances in the Division III playoffs. Their combined record is 1–5.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1984 | First Round | Union (NY) | L 14–26 |
| 1994 | First Round Second Round | Merchant Marine Ithaca | W 19–18 L 7–22 |
| 1995 | First Round | Union (NY) | L 7–24 |
| 2008 | First Round | Cortland | L 14–26 |
| 2017 | First Round | Brockport | L 0–66 |

## Seasons

| 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 |
| Plymouth State Panthers |||||||||||||||
| 1970 | 1970 | Walter L. Murphy | NCAA | — | — | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1971 | 1971 | Walter L. Murphy | NCAA | — | NEFC | 5 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1972 | 1972 | Tom Bell | NCAA | — | NEFC | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 1973 | 1973 | Tom Bell | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1974 | 1974 | Tom Bell | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2nd | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 1975 | 1975 | Tom Bell | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1976 | 1976 | Charlie Currier | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 5 | 4 | 0 | T-2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1977 | 1977 | Charlie Currier | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 2 | 6 | 1 | 9th | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — |
| 1978 | 1978 | Dan Zaneski | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 3 | 6 | 0 | 8th | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1979 | 1979 | Dan Zaneski | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 4 | 6 | 0 | T-5th | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1980 | 1980 | Jim Aguiar | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 6 | 3 | 1 | T-4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 1981 | 1981 | Jay Cottone | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 9 | 0 | 0 | Conference Champion | — |
| 1982 | 1982 | Jay Cottone | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1st | 9 | 0 | 0 | Conference Champion | — |
| 1983 | 1983 | Jay Cottone | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 8 | 1 | 0 | Won ECAC Championship | — |
| 1984 | 1984 | Jay Cottone | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 9 | 0 | 0 | Lost First Round 14–26 | — |
| 1985 | 1985 | Jay Cottone | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1st | 8 | 1 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1986 | 1986 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1st | 8 | 0 | 1 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1987 | 1987 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | Won ECAC Championship | — |
| 1988 | 1988 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 6 | 0 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1989 | 1989 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1990 | 1990 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1991 | 1991 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1992 | 1992 | Lou Desloges | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 1993 | 1993 | Don Brown | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2nd | 5 | 1 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1994 | 1994 | Don Brown | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 6 | 0 | 0 | Won 1994 First Round 19–18 Lost Second Round 7–22 | — |
| 1995 | 1995 | Don Brown | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 7 | 0 | 0 | Lost 1994 First Round 7–24 | — |
| 1996 | 1996 | Mike Kemp | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 5 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1997 | 1997 | Mike Kemp | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 7 | 4 | 0 | T-2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1998 | 1998 | Mike Kemp | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 1999 | 1999 | Chris Rorke | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 8 | 3 | 0 | T-2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | Won ECAC Championship | — |
| 2000 | 2000 | Chris Rorke | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T-3rd | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2001 | 2001 | Chris Rorke | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 7 | 3 | 0 | T-1st | 5 | 1 | 0 | Conference Champion | — |
| 2002 | 2002 | Chris Rorke | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 2003 | 2003 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | FFC | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 2004 | 2004 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | — | 1 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 2005 | 2005 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | — | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 2006 | 2006 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 4 | 5 | 0 | T-3rd | 4 | 3 | | — | — |
| 2007 | 2007 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2nd | 6 | 1 | | Won ECAC Championship | — |
| 2008 | 2008 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 7 | 0 | | Lost 2008 First Round 14–26 | — |
| 2009 | 2009 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | 6 | 1 | | Lost ECAC Championship | — |
| 2010 | 2010 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | 4 | 3 | | — | — |
| 2011 | 2011 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 5th | 2 | 5 | | — | — |
| 2012 | 2012 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | NEFC | 2 | 8 | 0 | T-6th | 1 | 6 | | — | — |
| 2013 | 2013 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | T-8th | 1 | 7 | | — | — |
| 2014 | 2014 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9th | 0 | 8 | | — | — |
| 2015 | 2015 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | T-8th | 1 | 7 | | — | — |
| 2016 | 2016 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T-3rd | 4 | 4 | | — | — |
| 2017 | 2017 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | T-1st | 7 | 1 | | Lost 2017 First Round 0–66 | — |
| 2018 | 2018 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4th | 5 | 3 | | — | — |
| 2019 | 2019 | Paul Castonia | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T-5th | 4 | 4 | | — | — |
| Season canceled due to Covid-19 |||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2021 | Paul Castonia / Devin Zeman | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4th | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 2022 | Paul Castonia / Devin Zeman | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 6 | 2 | 0 | Won New England Bowl 21–20 | — |
| 2023 | 2023 | Paul Castonia / Devin Zeman | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 5th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2024 | Paul Castonia / Devin Zeman | NCAA | Division III | MASCAC | | | | | | | | | |

## 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 | | | | |
* ↑ Although the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902, it has been continuously played since the 1916 game, and is recognized as the oldest bowl game by the NCAA. "—" indicates any season prior to 1916 when postseason games were not played.
* ↑ A running total of the number of head coaches, with coaches who served separate tenures being counted only once. Interim head coaches are represented with "Int" and are not counted in the running total. "—" indicates the team played but either without a coach or no coach is on record. "X" indicates an interim year without play.
* ↑ Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since.
* ↑ When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss.

### 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 | NC | Awards |
| 1 | Walter Murphy | 1970–1971 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.455 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | Tom Bell | 1972–1975 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 0.706 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | Charlie Currier | 1976–1977 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0.417 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | Dan Zaneski | 1978–1979 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0.368 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | Jim Aguiar | 1980 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0.650 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | Jay Cottone | 1981–1985 | 53 | 46 | 7 | 0 | 0.868 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 5 | – | – |
| 7 | Lou Desloges | 1986–1992 | 73 | 55 | 15 | 3 | 0.774 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | 4 | – | – |
| 8 | Don Brown | 1993–1995 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 0.806 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 2 | – | – |
| 9 | Mike Kemp | 1996–1998 | 31 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 0.613 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | Chris Rorke | 1999–2002 | 41 | 20 | 21 | 0 | 0.488 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | – | – |
| 11 | Paul Castonia | 2003–present | 182 | 85 | 97 | 0 | 0.467 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | 2 | – | – |
| 12 | Devin Zeman | 2020–present | 33 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 0.545 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |