The Missouri Southern Lions college football team competes as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, and represents Missouri Southern State University in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The Lions play their home games at Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Missouri since 1975. Since their inaugural season, Missouri Southern has appeared in one NAIA Division II National Championship Game, and one NCAA Division II playoffs.
For the 1968–75 seasons, Missouri Southern competed as a NAIA independent, unaffiliated with a conference. They would later join the Central States intercollegiate conference. In 1989 the Lions joined the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association, later renamed the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and the NCAA Division II ranks.
Seasons National champions †Conference champions *Shared standing T SeasonHead coachConferenceSeason resultsPostseasonFinal ranking Overall Conference Postseason resultAFCA PollD2fb.com Poll Wins Losses Ties Wins Losses Ties Conference finish Division finish Missouri Southern Lions 1968 Jim Johnson Independent280———————— 1969 Reuben Berry Independent280———————— 1970 Reuben Berry Independent271———————— 1971 Jim Frazier Independent460———————— 1972 † Jim Frazier Independent1200—————Won NAIA Division II Championship against Northwestern (IA), 21–14—— 1973 Jim Frazier Independent460———————— 1974 Jim Frazier Independent630———————— 1975 Jim Frazier Independent731———————— 1976 * Jim Frazier CSIC820410T–1st———— 1977 Jim Frazier CSIC550250T–5th———— 1978 Jim Frazier CSIC631421T–2nd———— 1979 Jim Frazier CSIC560340T–3rd———— 1980 Jim Frazier CSIC631430T–3rd———— 1981 Jim Frazier CSIC641520T–2nd———— 1982 Jim Frazier CSIC7215113rd ———— 1983 Jim Frazier CSIC9205202nd———— 1984 Jim Frazier CSIC630520T–2nd———— 1985 Jim Frazier CSIC640430T–3rd———— 1986 Rod Giesselmann CSIC270250T–5th———— 1987 Rod Giesselmann CSIC3703405th———— 1988 Bill Cooke CSIC370250T–6th———— 1989 Jon Lantz MIAA6406404th———— 1990 Jon Lantz MIAA450450T–5th———— 1991 Jon Lantz MIAA8307202nd———— 1992 Jon Lantz MIAA4603607th———— 1993 * Jon Lantz MIAA9119001st—Lost NCAA First Round to Mankato State, 34–13—— 1994 Jon Lantz MIAA5505405th———— 1995 Jon Lantz MIAA6405405th———— 1996 Jon Lantz MIAA64—54—T–4th———— 1997 Jon Lantz/Rob Green MIAA73—63—T–3rd———— 1998 Greg Gregory MIAA37—36—T–6th———— 1999 Greg Gregory MIAA 5 6 — 3 6 — 6th — — — — 2000 Bill Cooke MIAA 2 9 — 2 7 — 8th———— 2001 Bill Cooke MIAA 4 6— 3 6 — 7th — — — —2002 Bill Cooke MIAA 5 6— 3 6— 7th———— 2003 Bill Cooke/Rob Green MIAA 1 10 — 1 8 —9th———— 2004 John Ware MIAA56—45—T–5th———— 2005 John Ware/Keeth Matheny MIAA 3 7—26—7th———— 2006 Bart Tatum MIAA 5 6— 3 6 — 6th ———— 2007 Bart Tatum MIAA 6 5 — 5 4 — T–4th—— — — 2008 Bart Tatum MIAA 4 7— 2 7— 8th — ——— 2009 Bart Tatum MIAA 3 7— 3 6—T–7th———— 2010 Bart Tatum MIAA 4 7— 2 7 — T–8th——— — 2011 Bart Tatum MIAA37—27 —T–8th———— 2012 Daryl Daye MIAA 6 5— 5 5 —T–8th———— 2013 Daryl Daye MIAA 7 3— 5 3 — 6th — — — —2014Daryl DayeMIAA47—47— T–7th————2015Denver JohnsonMIAA110—110— 11th————2016Denver JohnsonMIAA29—29— T–10th————2017Denver JohnsonMIAA011—011— 12th————Total 301 258 7———(only includes regular season games)210———(only includes playoff and bowl games; 2 appearances)———(all games)
References