# Dubuque Spartans football

The Dubuque Spartans football team represents the University of Dubuque in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Spartans are members of the American Rivers Conference (ARC), fielding its team in the ARC since 1929 when it was the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC). The Spartans play their home games at Chalmers Field in Dubuque, Iowa.
Their head coach is Ryan Maiuri, who took over the position December 28,2023.

## Conference affiliations

* Hawkeye College Conference (1914–1917)
* Independent (1918–1924)
* Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1929–2017; rebranded)
* American Rivers Conference (2018–present)

## Championships
### Conference championships

Dubuque claims 11 conference titles, the most recent of which came in 2015.
| Year | Conference | Overall Record | Conference Record | Coach |
| 1915 | Hawkeye College Conference | 7–0 | N/A | John Chalmers |
| 1916 | Hawkeye College Conference | 5–1 | N/A | John Chalmers |
| 1917 | Hawkeye College Conference | 5–0–1 | N/A | John Chalmers |
| 1940 | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 7–1 | 7–0 | Kenneth E. Mercer |
| 1942 | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 8–0 | 8–0 | Kenneth E. Mercer |
| 1948† | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 7–1 | 5–0 | Kenneth E. Mercer |
| 1978† | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 7–2 | 5–2 | Don Birmingham |
| 1979 | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 9–1 | 7–0 | Don Birmingham |
| 1980 | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 8–2–1 | 6–1 | Don Birmingham |
| 2011 | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 9–2 | 7–1 | Stan Zweifel |
| 2015 | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 8–3 | 7–0 | Stan Zweifel |
† Co-champions

## Postseason games
### NCAA Division III playoff games

The Spartans have appeared in the Division III playoffs four times with an overall record of 0–4.
| Season | Coach | Playoff | Opponent | Result |
| 1979 | Don Birmingham | Quarterfinals | Ithaca | L 0–37 |
| 1980 | Don Birmingham | Quarterfinals | Minnesota Morris | L 35–41 |
| 2011 | Stan Zweifel | First round | North Central (IL) | L 13–59 |
| 2015 | Stan Zweifel | First round | Saint John's (MN) | L 7–51 |

## 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 | NC | Awards |
| 1 | Benson | 1909 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0.643 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | John Saathoff | 1912–1913 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.444 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | John Chalmers | 1914–1924 | 67 | 41 | 21 | 5 | 0.649 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | Clarence Peterson | 1929–1930 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0.269 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | Austin Griffen | 1931–1933 | 20 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0.100 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | John McCaffrie | 1934–1936 | 21 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 0.333 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7 | Paul Fitzke | 1937–1938 | 90 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0.594 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | Kenneth Mercer | 1939–1942, 1945–1961 | 166 | 95 | 65 | 6 | 0.590 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9 | Owen Evans | 1962–1968 | 62 | 24 | 33 | 5 | 0.427 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | Maury Waugh | 1969–1974 | 56 | 16 | 21 | 2 | 0.436 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 11 | Larry Pohlman | 1975–1976 | 20 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 0.250 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 12 | Don Birmingham | 1977–1983 | 69 | 42 | 26 | 1 | 0.616 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 13 | Myron Smith | 1984–1986 | 31 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 0.161 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14 | Don Turner | 1987–1989 | 31 | 13 | 18 | 0 | 0.419 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 15 | Mike Messer | 1990–1993 | 34 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 0.118 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 16 | Don Caves (interim) | 1993 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.250 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 17 | Jim Collins | 1994–1996 | 30 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 0.133 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 18 | Mike Murray | 1997–2000 | 49 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 0.082 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 19 | Vince Brautigam | 2001–2008 | 80 | 22 | 58 | 0 | 0.275 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 20 | Stan Zweifel | 2009–2023 | 141 | 85 | 56 | 0 | 0.603 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 20 | Ryan Maiuri | 2024-Present | | | | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

## 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 |
| Dubuque Spartans |||||||||||||||
| 1909 | 1909 | Benson | IAAUS | — | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| No team from 1910–1911 |||||||||||||||
| 1912 | 1912 | John Saathoff | NCAA | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1913 | 1913 | John Saathoff | NCAA | — | — | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1914 | 1914 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | HCC | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1915 | 1915 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | HCC | 7 | 0 | 0 | | | | | Conference champions | — |
| 1916 | 1916 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | HCC | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | | | Conference champions | — |
| 1917 | 1917 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | HCC | 5 | 0 | 1 | | | | | Conference champions | — |
| 1918 | 1918 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1919 | 1919 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 6 | 1 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1920 | 1920 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1921 | 1921 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1922 | 1922 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 4 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1923 | 1923 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 3 | 4 | 1 | | | | | — | — |
| 1924 | 1924 | John Chalmers | NCAA | — | Independent | 1 | 6 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| No team from 1925–1928 |||||||||||||||
| 1929 | 1929 | Clarence Peterson | NCAA | — | IIAC | 1 | 4 | 1 | | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1930 | 1930 | Clarence Peterson | NCAA | — | IIAC | 2 | 5 | 0 | | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1931 | 1931 | Austin Griffen | NCAA | — | IIAC | 0 | 7 | 0 | | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1932 | 1932 | Austin Griffen | NCAA | — | IIAC | 1 | 5 | 0 | | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1933 | 1933 | Austin Griffen | NCAA | — | IIAC | 1 | 6 | 0 | | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1934 | 1934 | John McCaffrie | NCAA | — | IIAC | 2 | 3 | 1 | | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| 1935 | 1935 | John McCaffrie | NCAA | — | IIAC | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1936 | 1936 | John McCaffrie | NCAA | — | IIAC | 1 | 6 | 1 | | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1937 | 1937 | Paul Fitzke | NCAA | — | IIAC | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 1938 | 1938 | Paul Fitzke | NCAA | — | IIAC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1939 | 1939 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4th | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1940 | 1940 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 7 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1941 | 1941 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3rd | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 1942 | 1942 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1st | 8 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| No team from 1943–1944 |||||||||||||||
| 1945 | 1945 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 4 | 2 | 0 | T-4th | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1946 | 1946 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1947 | 1947 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5th | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1948 | 1948 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 7 | 1 | 0 | T-1st | 5 | 0 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1949 | 1949 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1950 | 1950 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 3 | 5 | 0 | T-4th | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1951 | 1951 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 3 | 4 | 0 | T-2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1952 | 1952 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 1953 | 1953 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1954 | 1954 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 1955 | 1955 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | — | IIAC | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6th | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1956 | 1956 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 3 | 3 | 2 | T-5th | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 1957 | 1957 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8th | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — |
| 1958 | 1958 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1959 | 1959 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1960 | 1960 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1961 | 1961 | Kenneth E. Mercer | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1962 | 1962 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 2 | 7 | 0 | 8th | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 1963 | 1963 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5th | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — |
| 1964 | 1964 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 3 | 5 | 1 | T-5th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1965 | 1965 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 1966 | 1966 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1967 | 1967 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 1 | 6 | 2 | 7th | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 1968 | 1968 | Owen Evans | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5th | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1969 | 1969 | Maury Waugh | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 1 | 7 | 0 | 8th | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 1970 | 1970 | Maury Waugh | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 2 | 7 | 0 | 6th | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1971 | 1971 | Maury Waugh | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7th | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | — |
| 1972 | 1972 | Maury Waugh | NCAA | College Division | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4th | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 1973 | 1973 | Maury Waugh | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4th | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 1974 | 1974 | Maury Waugh | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7th | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1975 | 1975 | Larry Pohlman | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 3 | 5 | 2 | | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1976 | 1976 | Larry Pohlman | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1977 | 1977 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | T-6th | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1978 | 1978 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 7 | 2 | 0 | T-1st | 5 | 2 | 0 | Conference champions | — |
| 1979 | 1979 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 7 | 0 | 0 | Playoff berth | — |
| 1980 | 1980 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1st | 6 | 1 | 0 | Playoff berth | — |
| 1981 | 1981 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4th | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1982 | 1982 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4th | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 1983 | 1983 | Don Birmingham | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | T-4th | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1984 | 1984 | Myron Smith | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 3 | 7 | 0 | | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1985 | 1985 | Myron Smith | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 0 | 10 | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | — | — |
| 1986 | 1986 | Myron Smith | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 9 | 0 | | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1987 | 1987 | Don Turner | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 6 | 5 | 0 | T-4th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 1988 | 1988 | Don Turner | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 3 | 7 | 0 | T-6th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1989 | 1989 | Don Turner | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | T-6th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 1990 | 1990 | Mike Messer | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1991 | 1991 | Mike Messer | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1992 | 1992 | Mike Messer | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1993 | 1993 | Mike Messer (games 1–2) / Don Caves (remainder) | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1994 | 1994 | Jim Collins | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | 8th | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 1995 | 1995 | Jim Collins | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | T-6th | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| 1996 | 1996 | Jim Collins | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9th | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — |
| 1997 | 1997 | Mike Murray | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 3 | 7 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1998 | 1998 | Mike Murray | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 0 | 10 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 1999 | 1999 | Mike Murray | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 2000 | 2000 | Mike Murray | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 0 | 10 | 0 | | | | | — | — |
| 2001 | 2001 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | 10th | 1 | 8 | 0 | — | — |
| 2002 | 2002 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 1 | 9 | 0 | 10th | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — |
| 2003 | 2003 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10th | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — |
| 2004 | 2004 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | T-8th | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 2005 | 2005 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | T-8th | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 2006 | 2006 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T-3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2007 | 2007 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 7 | 3 | 0 | T-3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2008 | 2008 | Vince Brautigam | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 2 | 8 | 0 | 8th | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — |
| 2009 | 2009 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T-5th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2010 | 2010 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 6th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 | 2011 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1st | 7 | 1 | 0 | Playoff berth | — |
| 2012 | 2012 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T-2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2013 | 2013 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 5 | 5 | 0 | T-3rd | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2014 | 2014 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 4 | 6 | 0 | 5th | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2015 | 2015 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1st | 7 | 0 | 0 | Playoff berth | — |
| 2016 | 2016 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 8 | 2 | 0 | T-2nd | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2017 | 2017 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | IIAC | 6 | 4 | 0 | T-4th | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — |
| 2018 | 2018 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | A-R-C | 7 | 3 | 0 | T-2nd | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 2019 | 2019 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | A-R-C | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 2020–21 | 2020–21 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | A-R-C | 1 | 0 | 0 | T-2nd | 1 | 0 | 0 | | |
| 2021 | 2021 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | A-R-C | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4th | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 2022 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | A-R-C | 6 | 4 | 0 | T-2nd | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2023 | Stan Zweifel | NCAA | Division III | A-R-C | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4th | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — |