A History of Lindenwood Lions Football

The Lindenwood Lions football team represents Lindenwood University in football. Lindenwood is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The Lions play in Harlen C. Hunter Stadium on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

Early Years and NAIA Era (1990-2011)

Lindenwood University football began in 1990 under head coach David Schroeder. LU competed as an independent for the first four seasons. Despite a 3-5-0 start to the first half of the 1991 season, a program highlight came on October 12, 1991, when Lindenwood tied 17-17 on the road in Birmingham, Alabama with NCAA Division III Alabama-Birmingham before the UAB program upgraded to NCAA Division I. Following that game, the Lions lost the following game to Benedictine College but finished the season with a three-game win streak to finish the season 5-4-1.

During the next several years of the football program, bright spots began to emerge, a couple of the original players from the first team ever at the school were named to the All American team. Hoyt Gregory made all American in 1992 and two players from the original football class Steve Pinkerton and Jim Paddock were signed and drafted into professional football. Jeff Driskill became the second coach in program history in 1992.

In 1994 Lindenwood became one of the founding members of the Mid-States Football Association along with five schools from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. In 1996 the program became a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The Lions recorded back-to-back 4-6-0 seasons in 1996 and 1997.

The Lions entered the 2009 NAIA Playoffs and won 42-14 over Langston University. Lindenwood defeated the Carroll Fighting Saints 42-35 to reach the NAIA Football National Championship for the team's first and only appearance. Under Ross the Lions set a school offensive record with a 90-19 week 7 win over Culver-Stockton.

Read also: A Legacy at Lindenwood

As part of the transition to Division II, the 2010 schedule would be the last NAIA schedule played by Lions Football, as it was announced the Lions will play an independent schedule of NCAA Division I FCS, Division II, and NAIA schools. Lindenwood opened in 2011 on the road at Northern Colorado when kicker, James Neal kicked a 21-yard fieldgoal as time expired to win the game. The win was the programs first over a Division I football team since Lindenwood defeated NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) Butler 34-33 in 1998.

Transition to NCAA Division II and MIAA (2012)

Lindenwood played its first full NCAA Division II and MIAA schedule during the 2012 season. Senior Day versus Missouri Southern marked a big turning point in the season for the Lions. Down 14-0 early, Lindenwood rallied with 31 unanswered points to take a 31-14 lead. Missouri Southern State scored late in the half but Lindenwood continued to pull away in the second half, adding 14 points while holding MSSU to just 9 in the second half. The 45-30 win snapped the team's losing streak but the win was not without a big loss. The Lions finished the regular season with an 8-3 overall record and 7-3 conference record.

Current Era

The current head football coach at Lindenwood is Jed Stugart, who was hired on December 5, 2016.

Bowl Games

Lindenwood has participated in three bowl games with an overall record of 0 wins and 3 losses. In 2000, the Lions went to the first bowl game in school history, the Wheat Bowl, against Concordia University (Nebraska) and lost 14-31. 2006 saw Lindenwood return to the Wheat Bowl, this time against Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

The 2025 Lindenwood Lions football team will represent Lindenwood University in football. Jed Stugart is entering his 8th season as head coach, with a record of 44-39 (.530).

Lindenwood was previously a member of the NAIA and played in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) from 1996 to 2010. In 2009, Ross lead to become the HAAC Champions for the third-straight season.

Key Moments and Achievements

October 12, 1991: Lindenwood tied 17-17 on the road in Birmingham, Alabama with NCAA Division III Alabama-Birmingham.
1992: Hoyt Gregory made All-American.
1998: Lindenwood defeated NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) Butler 34-33.
2009: HAAC Champions.
2009: Lindenwood defeated the Carroll Fighting Saints 42-35 to reach the NAIA Football National Championship for the team's first and only appearance.