The 1973 NCAA Division III football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division III level, began in August 1973, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship in December 1973 at Garrett–Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. This was the first season for Division III (and Division II) football, which were formerly in the College Division in 1972 and prior.
Wittenberg won their first Division III championship, defeating in the championship game by a score of 41−0.
Conference changes and new programs School 1972 conference 1973 conference Albany New program NCAA Division III independentSeton HallNew programMetropolitan Interscholastic ConferenceSalisbury StateNew programNCAA Division III independent
Conference standings
Conference champions Conference Champion(s) College Athletic Conference Southwestern at Memphis College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Carthage Independent College Athletic Conference Champion unknown Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Buena Vista Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hope Middle Atlantic Conference North: JuniataSouth: Franklin & Marshall Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference Coe Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Minnesota–DuluthSt. Thomas (MN) New England Football Conference Nichols New Jersey State Athletic Conference Montclair State Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III) Fisk Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Redlands
Postseason The 1973 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the first single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division III college football. The inaugural edition had only four teams (in comparison with the 40 teams competing as of 2024). The championship game was held at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. The Wittenberg Tigers defeated the Juniata College Eagles, 41−0, to win their first national title.
Playoff bracket
Coaching changes In-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place during the season. School Outgoing coach Reason Replacement Previous positionRiponJohn StorzerDiedBill Connor (interim, named full-time in December 1973)Ripon defensive coordinator (1967–1973)
End of season This list includes all head coaching changes announced during or after the season. School Outgoing coach Reason Replacement Previous positionBridgeportEd FarrellHired as head coach for DavidsonRay MurphyEast Stroudsburg offensive coordinator (1973)BrockportGerry D'AgostinoResignedDave HutterBrockport assistant coach (1971–1973)East StroudsburgCharles ReeseLeave of absenceDennis Douds (full-season interim, hired full-time on January 29, 1975)East Stroudsburg defensive coordinator (1968–1973)ElmhurstWendell HarrisResignedAl HankeLake Forest assistant coach (1954–1973)HamlineDick MulkernResignedJim SessionsMarietta assistant coach (1973)Jersey City StateJack StephansResignedBill McKeownNortheastern offensive coordinator (1972–1973)Maryville (TN)Boydson Baird (full-season interim)Permanent replacement hiredJim JordanCarson–Newman defensive backs coach (1973)RITTom CoughlinHired as quarterbacks coach for SyracuseLou SpiottiRochester defensive backs coach (1972–1973)Saint Mary's (CA)Leo McKillipHired as defensive coordinator for the Edmonton EskimosJim McDonaldSaint Mary's (CA) offensive line coach (1971–1973)Saint Peter'sVinnie CarlesimoResignedJoe CovielloNorth Bergen HS (NJ) (1960–1972)San DiegoAndy VinciHired as head coach by Cal Poly PomonaDick LoganSan Francisco State offensive coordinator (1970–1973)SimpsonAl PaoneResignedLarry Johnson (full-season interim)Simpson head baseball coach (1970–1974)SwarthmoreMillard Robinson (full-season interim)Not retainedLew ElversonSwarthmore head coach (1946–1972)Trenton StatePete CarmichaelHired as defensive coordinator for ColumbiaDick CurlTrenton State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (1973)WabashDick BowmanHired as defensive line coach for ArmyFrank NavarroColumbia head coach (1968–1973)William PatersonPhil ZofreaResignedBob TrocolorManchester Regional HS (NJ) freshmen coach (1963)Wisconsin–PlattevilleGil KruegerHired as head coach for Northern MichiganBob SeamansWisconsin–Platteville defensive coordinator (1969–1973)
See also 1973 NCAA Division I football season 1973 NCAA Division II football season 1973 NAIA Division I football season 1973 NAIA Division II football season
References