# List of Western Carolina Catamounts football seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Western Carolina Catamounts football team. Representing Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, the Catamounts compete in the Southern Conference in the NCAA Division I FCS. The school began playing football in 1931, and plays their home games out of 13,742-seat Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium. The Catamounts are currently led by head coach Kerwin Bell.
The Catamounts' first and currently only conference championship came in 1949 where they went 8–3 and participated in the now-defunct Smoky Mountain Bowl. The program made an appearance in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA national championship game, winning three games before falling to Southern Illinois in the championship game. The 1983 campaign was the winningest season in program history with an 11–3–1 record.

## Seasons

| National champions † | Conference champions * | Division champions ‡ | Bowl game berth ^ |
| Year | Coach | Conference | Conference finish | Record | Record | Record | Bowl/Postseason | Final ranking | Final ranking |
| Year | Coach | Conference | Conference finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | Bowl/Postseason | TSN/STATS Poll | Coaches' Poll |
| Western Carolina Catamounts ||||||||||
| 1931 | C.C. Poindexter | Ind | — | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1932 | C.C. Poindexter | Ind | — | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1933 | C.C. Poindexter | North State | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1934 | C.C. Poindexter | North State, Smoky Mountain | — | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1935 | Ralph James | North State, Smoky Mountain | — | 1 | 10 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1936 | Ralph James | North State, Smoky Mountain | — | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1937 | Ralph James | North State, Smoky Mountain | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1938 | Ralph James | North State | — | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1939 | James Whatley | North State | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1940 | James Whatley | North State | — | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1941 | James Whatley | North State | — | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1942 | No team | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. |
| 1943 | No team | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. |
| 1944 | No team | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. | Season cancelled due to World War II. |
| 1945 | Marion McDonald | North State | — | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1946 | Tom Young | North State | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1947 | Tom Young | North State | — | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1948 | Tom Young | North State | — | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1949 | Tom Young | North State | 1st | 8 | 3 | 0 | Lost 1949 Smoky Mountain Bowl vs West Liberty State, 0-20 | N/A | N/A |
| 1950 | Tom Young | North State | — | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1951 | Tom Young | North State | — | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1952 | Tom Young | North State | — | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1953 | Tom Young | North State | — | 1 | 9 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1954 | Tom Young | North State | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1955 | Tom Young | North State | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1956 | Dan Robinson | North State | — | 1 | 9 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1957 | Dan Robinson | North State | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1958 | Dan Robinson | North State | — | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1959 | Dan Robinson | North State | — | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1960 | Dan Robinson | North State | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1961 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1962 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1963 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1964 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1965 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1966 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1967 | Dan Robinson | CIAC | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1968 | Dan Robinson | Ind | — | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1969 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1970 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1971 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1972 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1973 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1974 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 9 | 2 | 0 | NCAA Division II Playoffs - First Round | N/A | N/A |
| 1975 | Bob Waters | Ind | — | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1976 | Bob Waters | Southern | — | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1977 | Bob Waters | Southern | 5th | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1978 | Bob Waters | Southern | T-3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1979 | Bob Waters | Southern | 7th | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1980 | Bob Waters | Southern | 5th | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1981 | Bob Waters | Southern | 6th | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1982 | Bob Waters | Southern | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1983 | Bob Waters | Southern | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 1 | NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs - Runner Up | 9 | N/A |
| 1984 | Bob Waters | Southern | 2nd | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | 14 | N/A |
| 1985 | Bob Waters | Southern | T-5th | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1986 | Bob Waters | Southern | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1987 | Bob Waters | Southern | T-5th | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1988 | Bob Waters | Southern | T-7th | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1989 | Dale Strahm | Southern | T-6th | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1990 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | 6th | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1991 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | T-6th | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1992 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | T-2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1993 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1994 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | T-3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1995 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | T-7th | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1996 | Steve Hodgin | Southern | 9th | 4 | 7 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1997 | Bill Bleil | Southern | 7th | 3 | 8 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1998 | Bill Bleil | Southern | 3rd | 6 | 5 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 1999 | Bill Bleil | Southern | 7th | 3 | 8 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 | Bill Bleil | Southern | T-6th | 4 | 7 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 | Bill Bleil | Southern | 4th | 7 | 4 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 | Kent Briggs | Southern | T-5th | 5 | 6 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 | Kent Briggs | Southern | 6th | 5 | 7 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 | Kent Briggs | Southern | T-5th | 4 | 7 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 | Kent Briggs | Southern | 4th | 5 | 4 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 | Kent Briggs | Southern | 8th | 2 | 9 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2007 | Kent Briggs | Southern | 8th | 1 | 10 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2008 | Dennis Wagner | Southern | 8th | 3 | 9 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2009 | Dennis Wagner | Southern | 9th | 2 | 9 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2010 | Dennis Wagner | Southern | 9th | 2 | 9 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2011 | Dennis Wagner | Southern | 9th | 1 | 10 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2012 | Mark Speir | Southern | 9th | 1 | 10 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2013 | Mark Speir | Southern | T-8th | 2 | 10 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2014 | Mark Speir | Southern | T-2nd | 7 | 5 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 | Mark Speir | Southern | 3rd | 7 | 4 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 | Mark Speir | Southern | T-8th | 2 | 9 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 | Mark Speir | Southern | 4th | 7 | 5 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2018 | Mark Speir | Southern | 8th | 3 | 8 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Mark Speir | Southern | 8th | 3 | 9 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2020 | Mark Speir | Southern | 9th | 1 | 8 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | Kerwin Bell | Southern | T-4th | 4 | 7 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | Kerwin Bell | Southern | 5th | 6 | 5 | - | — | N/A | N/A |
| 2023 | Kerwin Bell | Southern | 4th | 7 | 4 | - | — | 23 | RV |
| Total Totals through the 2019 season | Total Totals through the 2019 season | Total Totals through the 2019 season | Total Totals through the 2019 season | 347 | 522 | 23 | (all games) | (all games) | (all games) |