Central Oklahoma Bronchos football

UCO made its football debut in 1902, five years before Oklahoma statehood, during which they were shutout in their only game of the season. In the match, the Oklahoma A&M Aggies defeated coach-less Central by a score of 40–0.[8] The Bronchos did not field a team in 1903, but they resumed play the following year in 1904 after securing their first head coach, Lt. Boyd Hill. Hill stepped down after posting a 2–3 record his first season, and he later went on to coach at Oklahoma A&M during the 1906 season.[9] In 1905, Coach Fenis Bently took the reins of the young football program and compiled a record of 18–33–4 over the span of seven seasons, with over a third of those losses coming against Oklahoma and Oklahoma A&M.[10]

After ten years of inconsistent play, the school landed a coach whose name now adorns their stadium in Edmond. Charles W. Wantland took over as the head coach in 1912 and guided Central to 106 victories, six conference championships, and Central State's first undefeated season in 1915, during his 18 years at the helm. Central's first conference championship came in 1914, when they posted a 7–1–1 record. In 1922 Wantland's wife suggested the term Bronchos for the school's athletic programs.[11] The third conference championship came in 1923, the Bronchos were impressive that season, beating its opponents by a combined score of 184–25, including a 14–6 victory over Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater.[12] The Bronchos continued their success by winning their fifth conference championship the following season in which Central defeated the likes of Oklahoma, Baylor (the eventual Southwest Conference Champions), and Tulsa, all on the road.[13][14] 1924 was the year of the program's sole victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. This is notable because the coaches for both schools, Charles W. Wantland (UCO) and Bennie Owen (OU), were later immortalized for their accomplishments in a nearly identical fashion: UCO named its stadium after Wantland, and OU named its playing field after Owen.[7][15] In addition to the stadium, UCO memorialized Coach Wantland by naming the physical education building in his honor.[16] Wantland guided UCO to one more conference championship in 1929 and finished the following year with a final record of 106–43–15 (.692).[17]

Former Oklahoma All-American Claude Reeds left West Texas State and took over the CSTC program in 1931. He picked up right where his predecessor left off by winning eight conference championships in his ten years in charge.[4][18] In 1940, Reeds ended his tenure at Central State with an impressive record of 57–28–8 (.656).

After Reeds' departure, Central State hired Dale E. Hamilton to lead the Bronchos to victory. Hamilton did not disappoint, posting a 73–25–3 (.738) and winning eight conference championships in his 12-year post.[4] During this time Hamilton spent two tours of duty in the armed forces, and Gene Smith filled in during the Korean War. After coaching, Hamilton served as the institution's athletic director. The university's Hamilton Field House is named in his honor.[19]

Following Hamilton's tough act, Coach Al Blevins managed to take the program to new heights by winning the programs first national championship in 1962. The season prior to their national crown, the Bronchos finished 9–1–0 and won its 20th conference championship. In 1962, Central State went a perfect 11–0 on the season and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl to take its first of two national championships.[20]

In 1964, Phil Ball replaced Blevins as the Bronchos head coach. After a few rough seasons, including a 3–6–1 record in 1967 the Bronchos rebounded over the next few seasons and won the OCAC championship in 1972, and made the NAIA playoffs. In the final year of Ball's tenure Central State made a transition to the NCAA Division II level. He finished with an overall record of 82–42–6.[21][20]

In 1977, Gary Howard succeeded Phil Ball as the head coach. He oversaw the program's transition from a brief period in NCAA Division II back to NAIA competition, as an independent.[22] During the first two seasons Howard's Bronchos went 12–8–1. In 1979, he led CSU to the program's third NAIA playoff appearance and an 11–2 record. The Bronchos lost the NAIA National Championship Game to Texas A&I 20–14. Three years later he returned to the playoffs this time winning the NAIA National Championship over Mesa State (now Colorado Mesa) 14–11. Howard also won the NAIA Coach of the Year award. The next season the Bronchos returned to the playoffs but lost to Saginaw Valley State in the first round. In 1985 the Bronchos lost in the first round to Henderson State in the institution's final NAIA playoff appearance.[20] In 1988 the Bronchos re-joined the NCAA where the joined the Lone Star Conference. The Bronchos struggled for several seasons including a 0–10–1 record in 1989. In 1996 the renamed Central Oklahoma Bronchos posted a 9–3 record, finished second in the Lone Star Conference, and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The first game against Chadron State ended in a Broncho victory. The Bronchos lost in the second round against UC Davis.[20] The next season the Lone Star Conference underwent conference expansion, adding schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma, and split into two divisions.[23] The first year of the new format the Bronchos captured the North Division title, and Howard won the North Division coach of the year award.[24] In 1998 the Bronchos finished the regular season undefeated, and won their first Lone Star Conference Championship. However, in the NCAA playoffs the UCO lost in the second round to conference foe Texas A&M–Kingsville. In 2000 TAMU–K forfeited their entire 1998 season following NCAA infractions. In 1999 the Bronchos also won the Conference title. The final three years experienced a decline of a 5–5, 3–8, and 5–6 records. Howard was fired after the 2002 season. He finished with an overall record of 161–106–6.[20][25]

In 2008, the Bronchos hired Tracy Holland as their head coach. In his first year as head coach the Bronchos had a 7–4 record and won the LSCs South Division Championship. However, the program's record declined every year under Holland. The decline in performance coincided with the NCAA's decision to place the Bronchos on three years probation for "lack of institutional control," starting in 2008 from infractions that occurred under Chuck Langston.[26] As a result of penalties, UCO's roster was reduced from 100 players to 90 players each season during the probation. In December 2011, Holland was fired as head coach after compiling a 15–29 record during his four seasons at the helm.[27] The following month, Nick Bobeck, a UCO alumnus and former fullback for the Bronchos, was hired to take the reins as head football coach at UCO.[28][29]

With the Bronchos off probation from the NCAA, former UCO-fullback Nick Bobeck, took over as head coach in 2012. The 2012 campaign began with three straight losses before an upset win over top-ten ranked Washburn.[30] The Bronchos finished with a 2–8 record. The following season the Bronchos began 0–7 before winning two straight. However, they lost to Northeastern State in the President's Cup game to finish with their second straight 2–8 record. In the first game of the 2014 season, the Bronchos won their 600th game. At the time this placed UCO as the fourth highest win total in Division II history.[31][32] During that season the Bronchos were as high as 22nd in the D2football.com rankings before finishing third in the MIAA with an 8–3 record and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.[33][34] In 2015, the Bronchos, began slowly with an 0–4 record, but won seven out of their final eight games to finish with a 7–5 record and a victory over in-state rival Southwestern Oklahoma State in the Live United Texarkana Bowl.[35][36] In 2016 UCO finished with a 3–8 record. In 2017, the Bronchos began the season 2-4 with all four losses by seven points or less. UCO finished the regular season with five straight victories and a 7-4 record, and a tie for fourth in the MIAA. The Bronchos went on to win the inaugural Corsicana Bowl over Tarleton State 38–31.

• The following is a list of Central Oklahoma's 27 conference championships.[20][39]

The Lone Star Conference was split into two divisions from the 1997 to the 2010 season with Central Oklahoma competing in the LSC North. Central Oklahoma has won or shared 5 divisional titles. Their last division title was in the 2008 season. The conference and division championships were separate rankings.

Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State first played each other in 1912 and have since played in 77 contests with Central Oklahoma holding a 48–28–2 advantage. The two teams have combined for four NAIA national championships, and have played in two NCAA Division II conferences since 1997.[41] Beginning in 1998 the two programs have competed for the President's Cup. Central Oklahoma currently leads 11–9 in the trophy series.