2022 NCAA Division II football season
American college football season
The 2022 NCAA Division II football season , part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 31 and ended on December 17 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas . Ferris State defeated Colorado Mines , 41–14, for its second consecutive championship.
D-II team wins over FCS teams
September 10: Missouri S&T 17, Drake 14 OT
September 17: Delta State 28, Mississippi Valley State 17
October 1: Lane 28, Tennessee State 27 OT
Conference changes and new programs
Conference changes
Membership changes
Headlines
On October 27, 2022, the D-II Presidents Council voted to support a change to redshirt rules that had been proposed by six D-II conferences. Under the proposal, players in their first season of college attendance can play up to three games before losing redshirt status. The proposal will be voted on by the entire D-II football membership at the 2023 NCAA Convention.[ 1]
Rankings
The top 25 from the AFCA Coaches' Poll.
Preseason Poll
AFCA[ 2]
Ranking
Team
1
Ferris State (30)
2
NW Missouri State
3
Valdosta State
4
Colorado Mines
5
Grand Valley State
6
Shepherd
7
Angelo State
8
Bowie State
9
Harding
10
Notre Dame (OH)
11
West Florida
12
West Georgia
13
Kutztown
14
Nebraska–Kearney
15
Newberry
16
New Haven
17
Western Colorado
18
Albany State
19т
Lenoir–Rhyne
19т
Ouachita Baptist
21
California (PA)
22
Bemidji State
23
Slippery Rock
24
Midwestern State
25
Augustana (SD)
Conference standings
Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
Postseason
Teams
Bracket
Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
* - Host school
National semifinals
Teams that advanced to the semifinals were re-seeded.
Coaching changes
End of season
This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.
School
Outgoing coach
Date
Reason
Replacement
Previous position
Tuskegee
Reginald Ruffin
June 2, 2022 (effective at season's end)
Retired[ 3]
Aaron James
Tuskegee offensive coordinator (2022)
Morehouse
Rich Freeman
November 9, 2022
Resigned[ 4]
Gerard Wilcher
Rice defensive backs (2018–2022)
Missouri Western
Matt Williamson
November 13, 2022
Fired[ 5]
Tyler Fenwick
Southeastern Oklahoma State head coach (2019–2022)
UNC Pembroke
Shane Richardson
November 13, 2022
Fired[ 6]
Mark Hall
Chowan head coach (2019–2022)
Catawba
Curtis Walker
November 14, 2022
Resigned[ 7]
Tyler Haines
Shepherd offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2022)
Sioux Falls
Jon Anderson
November 14, 2022
Fired[ 8]
Jim Glogowski
Minnesota State defensive coordinator (2016–2022)
Northern Michigan
Kyle Nystrom
November 15, 2022
Resigned[ 9]
Shane Richardson
UNC Pembroke head coach (2014–2022)
Northwestern Oklahoma State
Matt Walter
November 16, 2022
Resigned[ 10]
Ronnie Jones
Emerson High School defensive coordinator (2021–2022)
West Texas A&M
Hunter Hughes
November 21, 2022
Fired[ 11]
Josh Lynn
Nebraska–Kearney head coach (2017–2022)
Texas–Permian Basin
Justin Carrigan
November 28, 2022
Accepted administrative position[ 12]
Kris McCullough [ 13]
East Central head coach (2022)
Michigan Tech
Steve Olson
November 29, 2022
Contract expired[ 14]
Dan Mettlach
Michigan Tech assistant head coach (2019–2022)
Albany State
Gabe Giardina
November 30, 2022
Hired by Charleston Southern [ 15]
Quinn Gray
Alcorn State quarterbacks coach (2020–2022)
Ashland
Lee Owens
December 2, 2022
Retired[ 16]
Doug Geiser [ 17]
Ashland assistant head coach, offensive line coach, and running game coordinator (2004–2022)
Minot State
Mike Aldrich
December 2, 2022
Contract expired[ 18]
Ian Shields
UNLV offensive assistant (2020–2022)
Northwood
Leonard Haynes
December 5, 2022
Became a part of school's faculty[ 19]
Dustin Beurer
Albion head coach (2019–2022)
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Tyler Fenwick
December 6, 2022
Hired by Missouri Western [ 5]
Bo Atterberry
Southeastern Oklahoma State head coach (2014–2018)
Wayne State (MI)
Paul Winters
December 9, 2022
Fired[ 20]
Tyrone Wheatley
Denver Broncos running backs coach (2022)
West Florida
Pete Shinnick
December 11, 2022
Hired by Towson [ 21]
Kaleb Nobles
Clemson director of offensive player development (2022)
CSU Pueblo
John Wristen
December 13, 2022
Retired[ 22]
Phil Vigil [ 23]
Western New Mexico head coach (2021–2022)
Nebraska–Kearney
Josh Lynn
December 13, 2022
Hired by West Texas A&M [ 24]
Ryan Held
North Alabama interim head coach (2022)
Chowan
Mark Hall
December 14, 2022
Hired by UNC Pembroke
Paul Johnson
Bloomsburg offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, and tight ends coach (2021–2022)
Eastern New Mexico
Tye Hiatt
December 21, 2022
Hired by Southern Utah [ 25]
Kelley Lee
Veterans Memorial Early College High School head coach (2021–2022)
East Central
Kris McCullough
December 22, 2022
Hired by Texas–Permian Basin [ 13]
John Litrenta
East Central defensive coordinator (2020–2022)
Western New Mexico
Phil Vigil
December 23, 2022
Hired by CSU Pueblo [ 23]
Bill Hickman
Western New Mexico offensive coordinator (2021–2022)
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Josh Kirkland
January 9, 2023
Hired by North Texas [ 26]
Ruzell McCoy (interim)
Southwestern Oklahoma State defensive coordinator (2021–2022)
American International
Kris Kulzer
Before January 11, 2023
Resigned or fired[ 27]
Lou Conte
The Citadel ffensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and fullbacks coach (2016–2022)
St. Augustine's
David Bowser
January 11, 2023
Resigned[ 28]
Howard Feggins
Fayetteville State offensive coordinator (2018–2022)
Grand Valley State
Matt Mitchell
January 15, 2023
Hired by Wisconsin [ 29]
Scott Wooster
Grand Valley State offensive line coach and tight ends coach (2020–2022)
Mary
Craig Bagnell
February 14, 2023
Hired by South Dakota [ 30]
Shann Schillinger
Mississippi State defensive analyst (2022)
Kentucky State
Paul Hamilton (interim)
February 20, 2023
Full-time coach hired[ 31]
Felton Huggins
McNeese wide receivers coach (2022)
Bentley
Alvin Reynolds
April 6, 2023
Resigned[ 32]
Saj Thakkar
Harvard running backs coach (2018–2022)
Colorado Mines
Brandon Moore
April 19, 2023
Hired by San Diego [ 33]
Pete Sterbick
Colorado Mines offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2019–2022)
William Jewell
Mike McGlinchey Jr.
April 24, 2023
Resigned[ 34]
Neil Linhart (interim)
William Jewell offensive coordinator (2020–2022)
Concord
Dave Walker
May 12, 2023
Resigned[ 35]
Brian Ferguson
Concord offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2020–2022)
Lincoln (PA)
Josh Dean
June 23, 2023
Accepted administrative position[ 36]
Frank Turner
Lincoln (PA) assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (2022)
See also
References
^ "DII Presidents Council supports one membership-sponsored Convention proposal, opposes another" (Press release). NCAA. October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ "Defending national champion Ferris State begins 2022 at No. 1" . afca.com . AFCA. August 8, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022 .
^ Gaither, Steven J. (June 2, 2022). "Reginald Ruffin retiring from coaching after season" . HBCU Gameday . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ Mosley, Kyle T. (November 9, 2022). "Rich Freeman Steps Down at Morehouse College" . HBCU Legends . Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ a b NOW, Jacob Meikel News-Press (November 13, 2022). "Missouri Western parts ways with head football coach Matt Williamson" . News-Press NOW . Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ Stiles, Chris (November 13, 2022). "Richardson out as UNCP head football coach" . Robesonian . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Catawba College Head Football Coach Announces Resignation" . November 14, 2022.
^ "USF fires football coach Jon Anderson" . Argus Leader . Retrieved December 1, 2023 .
^ "Kyle Nystrom Resigns from Northern Michigan" . D2 Message Board . November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "Walter to Step Down as Head Football Coach at Northwestern" . Northwestern Oklahoma State Athletics . November 16, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2023 .
^ "Hunter Hughes out as head football coach at West Texas A&M after six seasons" . Amarillo Globe-News . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "UTPB Head Football Coach Justin Carrigan to become Deputy Athletic Director" . newswest9.com . November 28, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ a b "Rising Star McCullough Named Head Football Coach" . UTPB Athletics . November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "Michigan Tech announces football leadership change" . November 29, 2022.
^ "Gabe Giardina Named Head Coach at Charleston Southern University" . Albany State University Athletics . November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "Owens Announces Retirement As Ashland University Head Football Coach" . Ashland University . December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ Stine, Larry. "Passing of the torch: Doug Geiser tabbed next football coach of Ashland University Eagles" . Ashland Times-Gazette . Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "Alrich Out as Minot State Football Coach" . The Dakotan . December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "Football coach taking on new role at Northwood University" . Northwood University . December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2023 .
^ "Wayne State football: Paul Winters no longer head coach after 19 years" . Detroit Free Press . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "UWF Announces The Resignation of Head Football Coach Pete Shinnick" . University of West Florida Athletics . December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "CSU Pueblo Head Football Coach, John Wristen, Announces Retirement and New Role as Athletics Development and External Relations Officer | | CSU Pueblo" . www.csupueblo.edu . Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ a b "Vigil Steps Down To Become CSU Pueblo Head Coach" . Western New Mexico University Athletics . December 23, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "Lynn steps down as UNK football coach" . The Grand Island Independent . December 13, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "New ENMU Head Football Coach Search Begins as Coach Hiatt Steps Down" . Eastern New Mexico University Athletics . December 21, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ Kimble, Kade. "Josh Kirkland Accepts New Job After One Year at SWOSU" . The Southwestern . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Lou Conte named Head Football Coach" . January 11, 2023.
^ "SAU's David Bowser steps down as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director" . Saint Augustine's University Athletics . January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Matt Mitchell Steps Down As Grand Valley State Head Football Coach" . Grand Valley State University Athletics . January 15, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ SELVIG, DAVE (February 14, 2023). "Update: Bagnell steps down as University of Mary football coach" . The Bismarck Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ Hoffman, Jarrett (February 20, 2023). "Kentucky State introduces Felton Huggins Jr. as new head football coach" . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Bentley - Head Coach Reynolds Out" . D2 Message Board . April 6, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023 .
^ "Moore Resigns, Sterbick Named Interim Head Coach Of Mines Football" . Colorado School of Mines Athletics . Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ "McGlinchey Steps Down as Head Football Coach" . William Jewell College Athletics . April 24, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Dave Walker leaving Concord" . D2 Message Board . May 12, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 .
^ Newswire, HBCU Gameday (June 24, 2023). "Lincoln University re-aligns football, athletics department" . HBCU Gameday . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
Seasons
Playoffs
Championship games
Records & statistics