List of VMI Keydets head football coaches

John McKenna, the program's all-time winningest football coach, brought VMI four SoCon championships.

The VMI Keydets football team competes in the Southern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Football Championship Subdivision, representing the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Since its inception in 1891, the program has had 30 head coaches.

Although the origins of VMI football date back to 1873, the first organized football team did not appear until 1891. The first head coach was Walter Taylor, the son of Walter H. Taylor, a prominent banker, lawyer, and aide-de-camp to Robert E. Lee.^[1] Notable coaches include Blandy Clarkson, who spent seven seasons with the Keydets and led the team to their first undefeated season in 1920; John McKenna, the school's all-time most victorious coach who compiled a record of 62–60–8 in thirteen seasons with VMI while winning four Southern Conference championships; and Bob Thalman, the second most victorious coach who led the team to the 1974 and 1977 conference titles. The most recent Keydet head coach was Sparky Woods, who coached seven seasons for the Keydets before being let go by the school in 2014.

In over 120 years of football, VMI has an all-time record of 465–657–42 (.418). The team has not had a winning season since 1981 (they had even 6–6 seasons in 2002 and 2003), and has yet to make the FCS playoffs since the subdivision's inception in 1978.

Key

General
#	A running total of the number of coaches
CCs	Conference championships
NCs	National Championships
†	Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame

Overall games
GC	Games coached
W	Wins
L	Losses
T	Ties^{[lower-alpha 1]}
W%	Winning percentage

Conference games
CW	Wins
CL	Losses
CT	Ties
C%	Winning percentage

Postseason games
PW	Wins
PL	Losses
PT	Ties

Coaches

List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, conference records, postseason records, championships and selected awards^[2]
#	Name	Season(s)^{[lower-alpha 2]}	GC	W	L	T	W%	CW	CL	CT	C%	PW	PL	PT	CCs	NCs	National awards
1	Walter Taylor	1891 !1891	4	3	0	6999100000000000000♠1	.875	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
2	George Bryant	1895 !1895–1896	13	8	5	6999100000000000000♠0	.615	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
3	R. N. Groner	1897 !1897	5	3	2	6999100000000000000♠0	.600	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
4	Samuel Boyle, Jr.	1898 !1899	7	5	2	6999100000000000000♠0	.714	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
5	Sam Walker	1900 !1900–1902	21	11	7	6999100000000000000♠3	.595	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
6	William Roper^[3]^†	1903 !1903–1904	11	5	6	6999100000000000000♠0	.455	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
7	Ira Johnson	1905 !1905–1906	16	6	9	6999100000000000000♠1	.406	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
8	Charles Roller	1907 !1907–1908	13	8	5	6999100000000000000♠0	.615	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
9	William C. Gloth	1909 !1909–1910	14	7	6	6999100000000000000♠1	.536	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
10	Alpha Brummage	1911 !1911–1912	16	14	2	6999100000000000000♠0	.875	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
11	Henry Poague	1913 !1913	10	7	1	6999100000000000000♠2	.800	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
12	Frank Gorton	1914 !1914–1916	26	14	16	6999100000000000000♠1	.558	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
13	Earl Abell	1917 !1917	9	4	4	6999100000000000000♠1	.500	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
14	Earl Abell Mose Goodman	1918 !1918	4	1	3	6999100000000000000♠0	.250	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
15	Red Fleming	1919 !1919	8	6	2	6999100000000000000♠0	.750	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
16	Blandy Clarkson	1920 !1920–1926	67	45	20	6999100000000000000♠2	.687	5000000000000000000♠5	5000000000000000000♠12	5000000000000000000♠1	.306	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
17	W. C. Raftery	1927 !1927–1936	98	38	55	6999100000000000000♠5	.413	5000000000000000000♠18	5000000000000000000♠33	5000000000000000000♠3	.361	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
18	Allison Hubert	1937 !1937–1946	96	43	45	6999100000000000000♠8	.490	5000000000000000000♠29	5000000000000000000♠24	5000000000000000000♠7	.650	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
19	Arthur Morton	1947 !1947–1948	18	9	8	6999100000000000000♠1	.339	5000000000000000000♠7	5000000000000000000♠4	5000000000000000000♠1	.625	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
20	Tom Nugent	1949 !1949–1952	39	19	18	6999100000000000000♠2	.513	5000000000000000000♠15	5000000000000000000♠6	5000000000000000000♠1	.705	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠1	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
21	John McKenna	1953 !1953–1965	130	62	60	6999100000000000000♠8	.508	5000000000000000000♠44	5000000000000000000♠27	5000000000000000000♠5	.612	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠4	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
22	Vito Ragazzo	1966 !1966–1970	51	10	41	6999100000000000000♠0	.196	5000000000000000000♠5	5000000000000000000♠18	5000000000000000000♠0	.217	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
23	Bob Thalman	1971 !1971–1984	151	54	94	6999100000000000000♠3	.368	5000000000000000000♠25	5000000000000000000♠43	5000000000000000000♠2	.371	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠2	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
24	Eddie Williamson	1985 !1985–1988	44	10	33	6999100000000000000♠1	.239	5000000000000000000♠5	5000000000000000000♠18	5000000000000000000♠1	.229	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
25	Jim Shuck	1989 !1989–1993	55	14	40	6999100000000000000♠1	.264	5000000000000000000♠6	5000000000000000000♠37	5000000000000000000♠1	.191	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
26	Bill Stewart	1994 !1994–1996	33	8	25	6999100000000000000♠0	.242	5000000000000000000♠7	5000000000000000000♠17	5000000000000000000♠0	.292	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
27	Ted Cain^{[lower-alpha 3]}	1997 !1997–1998	21	1	20	6999100000000000000♠	.048	5000000000000000000♠0	5000000000000000000♠16	5000000000000000000♠	.000	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
28	Cal McCombs	1999 !1999–2005	79	19	60	6999100000000000000♠	.241	5000000000000000000♠9	5000000000000000000♠35	5000000000000000000♠	.205	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
29	Jim Reid	2006 !2006–2007	22	3	19	6999100000000000000♠	.136	5000000000000000000♠0	5000000000000000000♠8	5000000000000000000♠	.000	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
30	Sparky Woods	2008 !2008–2014	79	17	62	6999100000000000000♠	.215	5000000000000000000♠9	5000000000000000000♠32	5000000000000000000♠	.220	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—
31	Scott Wachenheim	2015 !2015–pres.	0	0	0	6999100000000000000♠	–	5000000000000000000♠0	5000000000000000000♠0	5000000000000000000♠	–	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—	5000000000000000000♠—

Notes

↑ Overtimes rules were added to college football in 1996, thereby eliminating ties.
↑ From 1892 to 1894, the team had no coach.
↑ Cain was fired with one game remaining in the 1998 season, leaving Donny White to coach the final game on an interim basis. VMI lost the game to The Citadel, 36–10.

References

General

2013 VMI Football Record Book

Specific

↑ Miller, John A. "Lee's Famous Staff Officer Walter Taylor Jr." Emmitsburg Area Historical Society. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
↑ Statistics correct as of the end of the 2014 College Football season.
↑ Bill Roper – Hall of Fame Biography

VMI Keydets football

Venues	Alumni Field (1921–1961) Alumni Memorial Field (1962–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Military Classic of the South (The Citadel) Richmond William & Mary Virginia Tech (former)

Culture & lore	Traditions "The Spirit" Moe the Kangaroo Porter Cup

People	Head coaches NFL draftees

Seasons	1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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