# Elon Phoenix football

The Elon Phoenix football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Elon University located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The school first fielded a football team in 1909 and currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). After 11 seasons in the Southern Conference, Elon joined the Coastal Athletic Association for all sports, including football, in 2014. The Phoenix play their home games at the 13,100 seat Rhodes Stadium.

## History
### Classifications

* 1991–1998: NCAA Division II
* 1999–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

### Conference affiliations

* Independent (1909–31)
* Conference Carolinas (1932–74)
* South Atlantic Conference (1975–96)
* NCAA Division II Independent (1997–98)
* NCAA Division I-AA Independent (1999–2001)
* Big South Conference (2002)
* Southern Conference (2003–13)
* Colonial Athletic Association (2014–present)

## Postseason history
### NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Phoenix have appeared in the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs four times. Their record combined is 0–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2009 | First Round | at Richmond | L, 13–16 |
| 2017 | First Round | vs. Furman | L, 27–28 |
| 2018 | First Round | at Wofford | L, 7–19 |
| 2022 | First Round | at Furman | L, 6–31 |

### NAIA

The Phoenix, then known as the Fighting Christians, appeared in the NAIA playoffs six times. Their combined record was 10–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1973 | Semifinals National Championship | Wisconsin–La Crosse Abilene Christian | W, 35–24 L, 14–42 |
| 1974 | Semifinals National Championship | Henderson State Texas A&I | W, 21–7 L, 23–34 |
| 1976 | Semifinals | Central Arkansas | L, 7–10 |
| 1978 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Concord Grand Valley State Angelo State | W, 21–6 W, 13–7 L, 14–24 |
| 1980 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Concord East Texas State Northeastern State | W, 17–14 W, 14–6 W, 17–10 |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Concord Hillsdale Pittsburg State | W, 38–8 W, 41–13 W, 3–0 |

## Championships
### National

| Year | Association | Division | Coach | Selector | Record | Opponent | Score |
| 1980 | NAIA | Division I | Jerry Tolley | Playoffs | 13–1–0 | Northeastern State (OK) | 17–10 |
| 1981 | NAIA | Division I | Jerry Tolley | Playoffs | 11–1–1 | Pittsburg State | 3–0 |

### Conference

| Year | Coach | Conference | Record |
| 1933 | Peahead Walker | North State Conference | 5–3–1 |
| 1934$^{Co}$ | Peahead Walker | North State Conference | 6–2–1 |
| 1935 | Peahead Walker | North State Conference | 6–4–0 |
| 1936 | Peahead Walker | North State Conference | 6–5–0 |
| 1938$^{Co}$ | Horace Hendrickson | North State Conference | 6–3–0 |
| 1941 | Horace Hendrickson | North State Conference | 8–1–0 |
| 1957 | Sid Varney | North State Conference | 6–0–0 |
| 1963$^{Co}$ | George Tucker | Carolinas Conference | 6–4–0 |
| 1964 | George Tucker | Carolinas Conference | 8–1–1 |
| 1971 | Shirley Wilson | Carolinas Conference | 8–3–0 |
| 1972$^{Co}$ | Shirley Wilson | Carolinas Conference | 7–3–1 |
| 1973 | Shirley Wilson | Carolinas Conference | 12–1–0 |
| 1974 | Shirley Wilson | Carolinas Conference | 10–2–0 |
| 1976 | Shirley Wilson | South Atlantic Conference | 11–1–0 |
| 1977 | Shirley Wilson | South Atlantic Conference | 9–2–0 |
| 1978$^{Co}$ | Shirley Wilson | South Atlantic Conference | 11–2–1 |
| 1980$^{Co}$ | Jerry Tolley | South Atlantic Conference | 13–1–0 |
| 1981 | Jerry Tolley | South Atlantic Conference | 11–1–1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 18 |

## Notable former players

Notable alumni include:
* Jack Boone
* Hal Bradley
* Shane Gillis
* Joey Hackett
* Terrell Hudgins
* Dwayne Ijames
* Rich McGeorge
* Cameron McGlenn
* Aaron Mellette
* Chad Nkang
* Tony Settles
* Jimmy Smith
* Joe West
* Brandon Ward
* Oli Udoh

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 18, 2025.
| 2025 | 2027 | 2028 |
| at Duke | at Charlotte | at Wake Forest |
| Davidson | Norfolk State | at Norfolk State |
| at Western Carolina | | |
| at ETSU | | |