Tim Clifton retweetledi
Built to Last: D2’s Five Longest-Tenured Head Coaches
Experience still matters. These five head coaches didn’t bounce around chasing titles. They built programs, shaped identities, and stayed the course. Here’s a look at the longest-running D2 head coaches in the game today
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For more than two decades...and in one case, over three...these five men have stayed in the fight. They’ve seen realignment, budget cuts, COVID shutdowns, and playoff expansions. Yet through it all, they’ve kept showing up. Each built something lasting in a sport that rarely slows down.
🔹 Tim Clifton – [@CoachTimClifton] - @MarsHill_FB
Mars Hill | Head Coach Since 1993
Record: 173–156 (.524)
The longest-tenured coach in Division II. Clifton has been at the helm since 1993, guiding Mars Hill through 32 seasons of SAC football. He delivered a league title in 2011 and back-to-back division crowns in 2022 and 2023. Clifton coached under center in the SEC and worked his way through small-college programs before planting roots in western North Carolina.
🔹 Todd Knight – @OuachitaFB
Ouachita Baptist | Head Coach Since 1999
Record: 162–102 (.614)
The face of Ouachita Baptist football. Knight took over in 1999 and built one of the GAC’s flagship programs, stacking up seven conference titles and 160+ wins along the way. His Tigers are a perennial playoff threat—and his coaching tree, presence in the AFCA, and program stability speak to his reputation across the country.
🔹 Arne Ferguson [@ArneFerguson] – @WOU_FB
Western Oregon | Head Coach Since 2005
Record: 109–96 (.532)
A former WOU linebacker who never left. Ferguson has led the Wolves since 2005, overseeing their GNAC years and now their transition into the Lone Star. His teams have always been hard-nosed and consistent—and he’s earned every win over 19 seasons at the same spot he once played.
🔹 Roger Waialae – @WLU_Football
West Liberty | Head Coach Since 2005
Record: 98–115 (.460)
Nearly two decades in charge. Waialae coached the Hilltoppers to a playoff run in 2009 and has been a steady hand ever since. Originally from Hawaii, he brought a quarterback’s eye and a coordinator’s mind to West Virginia—coaching through major shifts and staying committed to the program.
🔹 Garin Higgins [@CoachGHiggins] – @ESUHornetsFB
Emporia State | Head Coach Since 2007
Record: 113–84 (.574)
A former Hornet quarterback turned long-term leader. Higgins has guided Emporia State to playoff wins, bowl appearances, and national rankings. His 113 wins over 18 seasons have come in one of the toughest conferences in the country. And he’s done it all at his alma mater.
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These are program shapers. Builders. Lifers.
Which one would you want leading your team on Saturday?
#D2Football #CollegeFootball #MIAA #GAC #SAC #LSC #MEC #CoachingStability [
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