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Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers football

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Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers football
2024 Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers football team
First season1895; 131 years ago (1895)
Head coachRyan Munz
4th season, 30–14 (.682)
LocationPlatteville, Wisconsin
StadiumRalph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium
NCAA divisionDivision III
ConferenceWIAC
Colors     
All-time record445–449–33 (.498)
Playoff record2–5 (.286)
Bowl record1–0 (1.000)
Conference championships
WIAC: 15 (1938, 1941, 1942, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1980, 2024)
Websiteletsgopioneers.com/football

The Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Wisconsin–Platteville located in Platteville, Wisconsin. The team competes at the NCAA Division III level and is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

Championships

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Conference championships

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The Pioneers have won the WIAC championship 15 times.[1]

Year Coach Overall record WIAC record
1938† Lester Leitl 4–1 3–1
1941† 3–0–2 3–0–1
1942† 3–1–1 3–0–1
1952† 5–1 4–0
1953† 6–0 4–0
1956† 6–1 5–0
1957 5–1 5–0
1968† Monte Charles 8–1 7–1
1969† Gil Krueger 8–1 7–1
1970 10–1 8–0
1971† 9–1 7–1
1974† Bob Seamans 8–2 7–1
1976† 8–2 6–2
1980† George Chryst 7–3 6–2
2024 Ryan Munz 9–2 6–1

† Co-champions

Postseason appearances

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NCAA Division III playoffs

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The Pioneers have made four appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 2–4.

Year Round Rival Result
2013 First Round
Second Round		 Concordia (WI)
North Central (IL)		 W, 54–20
L, 24–52
2016 First Round Saint John's (MN) L, 31–32
2024 Second Round Wartburg L, 14–19
2025 Second Round
Third Round		 Alma
Bethel (MN)		 W, 24–7
L, 24–35

NAIA Division I playoffs

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The Pioneers have made one appearance in the NAIA Division I playoffs, with a combined record of 0–1.

Year Round Rival Result
1970 Semifinals Texas A&I L, 0–16

Bowl games

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The Pioneers have a 1–0 bowl record after participating in the Culver's Isthmus Bowl in 2023.

Year Bowl Coach Rival Result Record
2023 Isthmus Bowl Ryan Munz Augustana (IL) W 36–10 7–4

Ranked teams

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Starting in 1999, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) began publishing rankings for Division III football.[2] In 2003, D3football.com started publishing its own rankings for Division III football.[3] Since the inception of both polls, Wisconsin–Platteville has been ranked at least six times in the AFCA Coaches Poll and six times in the D3football.com poll to end the season. Additionally, while not being ranked in the Top 25 to end the season, the Pioneers have received votes (RV) at least four times in the AFCA Coaches Poll and three times in the D3football.com poll.

Year D3 AFCA Record
2012 13 16 8–2
2013 9 8 10–2
2014 RV RV 7–3
2015 14 15 8–2
2016 14 16 8–3
2017 RV RV 7–3
2019 NR RV 7–3
2023 RV RV 7–4
2024 16 17 9–2
2025 10 11 9–3

Border Battle

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From 1984 to 2000, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, home to the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Golden Gophers, hosted games in November between WIAC teams and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) teams at the NCAA Division II level in what came to be known as the "Border Battle".[4] The Pioneers played at the Metrodome three times and had a 1–2 record.[5]

Date Opponent Result
November 18, 1984 Minnesota Duluth L 0–10
November 14, 1999 Minnesota Morris W 46–15
November 11, 2000 Southwest Minnesota State L 30–52

Facilities

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From 1984 to 2001, the Chicago Bears of the National Football League used the Pioneers facilities for the team's annual preseason training camp.[6] The Bears were looking at Platteville, as well as Wisconsin–Whitewater, but ultimately chose Platteville after a tour with legendary coach and athletic director George Chryst. The Bears cited strong facilities, as well as fewer distractions for the team due to the remoteness of Platteville.[7] The decision seemed to have paid off, as the 1985 Bears went on to win Super Bowl XX. Five other NFL teams used campuses across Wisconsin and Minnesota for training camp, in what was known as the Cheese League.

Notable players

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References

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  1. ↑ "Football Team Champs" (PDF). Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Polls". AFCA. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ "D3football.com Top 25 history". D3football.com. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ Stoner, Don (November 11, 1999). "Breaking the five-way tie". D3football.com. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Football Year By Year Results" (PDF). Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Chicago Bears Training Camp Locations". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ Lucas, Mike (August 4, 2023). "Platteville: Once home to Bears, Bo Ryan, Walter Payton and The Hill". The Cap Times. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
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