The Central Washington Wildcats program represents Central Washington University in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Wildcats are normally members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, but when that conference dropped football after the 2021 season, they joined the Lone Star Conference as football-only members. Formerly an NAIA program, Central Washington moved up to NCAA Division II in 1999.
Conference affiliations 1901–1921: Independent 1922–1937: Tri-Normal Conference 1938–1947: Washington Intercollegiate Conference 1948–1984: Evergreen Conference 1985–1986: Columbia Football League 1987–2000: Columbia Football Association 2001–2005: Great Northwest Athletic Conference 2006–2007: North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 2008–2021: Great Northwest Athletic Conference 2022–present: Lone Star Conference
Championships National championships The Wildcats have one claimed national championship. 1995 NAIA (1) Division II (1) Jeff Zenisek 10–3–1 (4–1 CFA) Findlay T, 21–21
Playoff appearances NCAA Division II The Wildcats have made nine appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 5–9.
2002 First Round UC Davis L, 6–24 2007 First RoundSecond RoundRegional Final AshlandNebraska–OmahaGrand Valley State W, 40–24W, 20–17L, 21–41 2008 First Round West Texas A&M L, 42–49 2009 Second RoundRegional Final Tarleton StateNW Missouri State W, 27–6L, 20–21 2017 Second Round Texas A&M–Commerce L, 31–34 2021 First Round NW Missouri State L, 21–50 2023 First RoundSecond RoundRegional Finals Western ColoradoBemidji StateColorado Mines W, 16–13 W, 21–17L, 14–38 2024 First Round Western Colorado L, 21–28 2025 First Round Western Colorado L, 20–27
NAIA The Wildcats made nine appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 10–8–1.
1984 QuarterfinalsSemifinals East CentralCentral Arkansas W, 22–20L, 6–44 1987 First Round Southern Oregon L, 14–21 1988 First Round Carroll (MT) L, 7–28 1989 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Lewis & ClarkDickinson StateWestminster (PA) W, 51–0W, 49–7L, 10–21 1990 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals GreenvillePacific LutheranWestminster (PA) W, 43–13W, 24–6L, 17–24 1991 First Round Pacific Lutheran L, 0–27 1993 First RoundQuarterfinals LinfieldPacific Lutheran W, 28–26L, 17–35 1995 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Western WashingtonHardin–SimmonsMary (ND)Findlay W, 28–21W, 40–20W, 48–7T, 21–21 1998 First RoundQuarterfinals Rocky MountainAzusa Pacific W, 41–38 OTL, 28–35
Stadium The Central Washington Wildcats have played their home games at Tomlinson Stadium since its construction in 1959 (Field named to Steve Hertling Field in 2024). The current permanent capacity of the stadium is 4,000.
Rivalries Western Washington
Notable players
Beau Baldwin Jon Kitna Mike Reilly John Zamberlin Adam Bighill Chase DeMoore Nolan Teasley References
External links