Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football


The Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Lenoir–Rhyne University located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The team competes in the NCAA Division II and are members of the South Atlantic Conference. Lenoir–Rhyne's first football team was fielded in 1907. The team plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Moretz Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina.
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Conference history

Conference affiliations

The Bears had no team from 1912–1920 and 1942–1945.

Postseason appearances

Bowl games

The Bears have participated in five postseason bowl games, compiling a 3–2 record.
1951Pythian BowlDecember 8, 1951California (PA)W 13–7Salisbury, North Carolina
1952Cigar BowlDecember 13, 1952TampaL 12–21Tampa, Florida
1955Palmetto ShrineDecember 10, 1955NewberryW 14–13Columbia, South Carolina
1959Holiday Bowl (NAIA)December 19, 1959Texas A&IL 20–7St. Petersburg, Florida
1960Holiday Bowl (NAIA)December 10, 1960Humboldt StateW 15–14St. Petersburg, Florida

NCAA Division II playoffs

The Bears have made eight appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Their combined record is 12–8, with one appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game.
2012First Round
Second Round		Fort Valley State
Carson–Newman		W, 21–6
L, 35–38
2013Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship		Carson–Newman
North Alabama
West Chester
NW Missouri State		W, 27–20
W, 42–39
W, 42–14
L, 28–43
2014Second RoundValdosta StateL, 21–23
2018First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		Florida Tech
Wingate
Valdosta State		W, 43–21
W, 21–17
L, 21–61
2019First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		Miles
Carson–Newman
West Florida		W, 36–7
W, 49–21
L, 38–43
2021First RoundBowie StateL, 10–31
2023First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Shepherd
Benedict
Valdosta State
Harding		W, 63–17
W, 35–25
W, 35–7
L, 14–55
2024First Round
Second Round		West Alabama
Virginia Union		W, 37–34
L, 12–44

NAIA

Lenoir–Rhyne made three appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 3–2–1.
1959Semifinals
National Championship		Southern Connecticut State
Texas A&I		W, 47–20
L, 7–20
1960Semifinals
National Championship		Northern Michigan
Humboldt State		T, 20–20
W, 15–14
1962Semifinals
National Championship		Northern State
Central State (OK)		W, 20–7
L, 13–28

Coaches

Clarence Stasavich has the most victories as coach of the Bears.

Notable former players

Year-by-year results

Year W-L-T
1907,
1908,
1909,
1910,
1911,
—-NO TEAM 1912-1920—-
1921,
1922,
1923,
1924,
1925,
1926,
1927,
1928,
1929,
1930,
1939*, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966*, 1967, 1975, 1988*, 1994*, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011*, 2012, 2013*, 2014*, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018*, 2019*, Spring 2020

Championship appearances

The Bears made three appearances in the NAIA championship game during their tenure, winning in 1960, and appeared in the NCAA Division II championship game in 2013.
YearDivisionCoachOpponentRecordScore
1959NAIA PlayoffsClarence StasavichTexas A&I Javelinas10–1L 7–20
1960NAIA PlayoffsClarence StasavichHumboldt State12–0W 15–14
1962NAIA PlayoffsHanley PainterCentral State (OK)11–1L 13–28
2013NCAA Division II PlayoffsMike HoustonNorthwest Missouri State13–2L 28–43

Conference championships

1939*, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966*, 1967, 1975, 1988*, 1994*, 2011*, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019
*denotes co-championship. The Bears won 8 titles in the North State Conference, 5 in the Carolinas Conference, and 9 in the South Atlantic Conference.