| Southwestern Pirates football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1908, 2013 |
| Head coach | Joe Austin 11th season, 36–67 (.350) |
| Stadium | Georgetown Stadium Complex (capacity: 11,000) |
| Field | Bernard Birkelbach Field |
| Year built | 2008 |
| Field surface | FieldTurf |
| Location | Georgetown, Texas |
| Conference | Southern Athletic Association (2023–present) |
| Past conferences | TIAA (1908–1924) Southwest Conference (1914–1917) Texas Conference (1925–1950) No program (1951–2012) SCAC (2013–2016) American Southwest Conference (2017–2023) |
| Bowl record | 2–0 (1.000) |
| Conference titles | 2016 |
| Rivalries | Trinity University |
| Colors | Black and gold[1] |
| Mascot | Pirate |
The Southwestern Pirates football team represents Southwestern University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) intercollegiate football competition. After a brief period of prominence during the Second World War, the school disbanded its football program in April 1951 due to budgetary constraints.
On October 28, 2011, The Southwestern University board of trustees voted to reinstate the program. The Pirates football team resumed play in the Fall of 2013 as part of the NCAA Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.[2]
In 2016, the final year that the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference sponsored football, the Pirates posted a perfect 6–0 record in becoming undefeated conference champions. As a part of the championship the Pirates swept the conference's major post-season awards, including: Justin Broussard (defensive player of the year), Matt Gillen (co-offensive player of the year), Nik Kelly (special teams player of the year), Luke Fierst (newcomer of the year) and Joe Austin (coach of the year).[3]
The football program competed in the American Southwest Conference as an affiliate member from 2017 to 2023. In the Fall 2023 season, Southwestern moved its football program to the Southern Athletic Association, with the rest of the school's sports following in 2025.[4]
- ^ "Southwestern University | Style Guide". Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ Southwestern University Announces Plans to Reinstate Football Program, Southwestern University, retrieved October 28, 2011
- ^ "SCAC Announces 2016 All-Conference Football Team - SCAC". 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Southwestern University to Join Southern Athletic Association". www.southwestern.edu. Retrieved 2 January 2024.