The Valdosta State Blazers represent the Valdosta State University in football . The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II . Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. Valdosta State has competed in six NCAA Division II National Football Championships and won four (2004, 2007, 2012, 2018), with losses in 2002 and 2021. The Blazers have also compiled nine GSC Championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021).
Seasons
National Champions †
Conference Champions *
Season
Head coach
Conference
Season
Playoff result
Season Record
Conference record
Conference Finish
Valdosta State Blazers
1982
Jim Goodman
Gulf South Conference
5–5–1
2–4
6th
1983
Gulf South Conference
5–6
2–5
8th
1984
Gulf South Conference
5–6
3–5
6th
1985
Jim Berryman
Gulf South Conference
5–6
3–5
6th
1986
Mike Cavan
Gulf South Conference
9–2
7–1
2nd
1987
Gulf South Conference
6–4
4–4
4th
1988
Gulf South Conference
6–3–1
4–3–1
4th
1989
Gulf South Conference
5–5
5–3
3rd
1990
Gulf South Conference
5–5
5–3
4th
1991
Gulf South Conference
6–3–1
4–1–1
2nd
1992
Hal Mumme
Gulf South Conference
5–4–1
3–2–1
4th
1993
Gulf South Conference
8–3
5–2
2nd
1994
Gulf South Conference
11–2
6–1
2nd
Loss NCAA Division II Quarterfinals against North Alabama , 27–24 (ot)
1995
Gulf South Conference
6–5
4–3
5th
1996 *
Gulf South Conference
10–3
6–2
1st *
Loss NCAA Division II Quarterfinals against Carson–Newman , 24–19
1997
Mike Kelly
Gulf South Conference
6–5
5–3
T–4th
1998
Gulf South Conference
5–6
4–5
5th
1999
Mike Kelly / Mark Nelson
Gulf South Conference
4–7
3–6
6th
2000 *
Chris Hatcher
Gulf South Conference
10–2
8–1
1st *
Loss NCAA Division II First Round against Delta State , 31–24
2001 *
Gulf South Conference
12–1
9–0
1st *
Loss NCAA Division II Quarterfinal against Catawba , 37–34 (ot)
2002 *
Gulf South Conference
14–1
9–0
1st *
Loss NCAA Division II Championship against Grand Valley State , 31–24
2003
Gulf South Conference
10–2
8–1
2nd
Loss NCAA Division II First Round against Carson–Newman, 35–29
2004 †*
Gulf South Conference
13–1
9–0
1st *
Won NCAA Division II Championship against Pittsburg State , 36–31
2005
Gulf South Conference
9–3
7–2
T–2nd
Loss NCAA Division II First Round against North Alabama , 40–13
2006
Gulf South Conference
8–2
6–2
T–3rd
2007 †
David Dean
Gulf South Conference
13–1
7–1
T–2nd
Won NCAA Division II Championship against Northwest Missouri State , 25–20[ 1]
2008
Gulf South Conference
9–3
6–2
3rd
Loss NCAA Division II Second Round against North Alabama , 37–10
2009
Gulf South Conference
6–4
5–3
3rd
2010 *
Gulf South Conference
8–3
6–2
T–1st *
Loss NCAA Division II First Round against North Alabama, 43–20
2011
Gulf South Conference
6–4
1–3
5th
2012 †
Gulf South Conference
12–2
4–1
2nd
Won NCAA Division II Championship against Winston–Salem State , 35–7[ 2]
2013
Gulf South Conference
6–4
3–2
5th
2014
Gulf South Conference
10–3
5–2
4th
Loss NCAA Division II Quarterfinal against West Georgia , 31–17
2015
Gulf South Conference
9–3
5–2
3rd
Loss NCAA Division II Second Round against West Georgia , 27–20
2016
Kerwin Bell
Gulf South Conference
8–3
6–2
2nd
Loss NCAA Division II First Round against UNC Pembroke , 24-21
2017
Gulf South Conference
5-4
5–3
5th
2018 †*
Gulf South Conference
14–0
8–0
1st *
Won NCAA Division II Championship against Ferris State , 49-47
2019 *
Gary Goff
Gulf South Conference
10-1
8-0
1st *
Loss NCAA Division II Second Round against West Florida, 35–38
2020
Gulf South Conference
0-0
0-0
Season suspended due to COVID-19
2021 *
Gulf South Conference
12-2
6-1
T-1st *
Loss NCAA Division II Championship against Ferris State ,17–58
2022
Tremaine Jackson
Gulf South Conference
4-5
2-4
6th
2023 *
Gulf South Conference
12-2
7-1
T-1st *
Loss NCAA Division II Quarterfinals against Lenoir–Rhyne ,7–35
Totals
11 coaches
333–137–4
215–94–3
10 Conference Championships
4 National Championships
Sources
2012 Blazer Record Book
Blazer Football Season Results
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold