2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team information
American college football season
2002Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
NCAA Division I-AA champion Gateway co-champion
NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game, W 34–14 vs. McNeese State
Conference
Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network
No. 1
Record
12–3 (7–1 Gateway)
Head coach
Jack Harbaugh (14th season)
Co-offensive coordinator
Willie Taggart (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinator
Keven Lightner (2nd season)
Offensive scheme
Multiple
Defensive coordinator
David Elson (2nd season)
Base defense
3–4
Home stadium
L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 2001
2003 →
2002 Gateway Football Conference standings
v
t
e
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 1 Western Kentucky +^
6
–
1
12
–
3
No. 5 Western Illinois +^
6
–
1
11
–
2
Youngstown State
4
–
3
7
–
4
Illinois State
4
–
3
6
–
5
Indiana State
3
–
4
5
–
7
Northern Iowa
2
–
5
5
–
6
Southern Illinois
2
–
5
4
–
8
Southwest Missouri State
1
–
6
4
–
7
+ – Conference co-champions
^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll
The 2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jack Harbaugh in his 14th and final season as head coach. They claimed a share of the Gateway Football Conference championship and made the school's third straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.[1] After a rocky start, the team rallied to win their last 10 games including the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, beating McNeese State, 34–14, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked number 1 in both final 1AA postseason national polls.[2]
This team won the school's first NCAA team championship and tied the program record for victories in a season set by the 1973 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team. Their roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Sherrod Coates, Jeremi Johnson, and Brian Claybourn, and future NFL coach Jason Michael. Coates, Chris Price, and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team and Harbuagh was named AFCA Coach of the Year Award. The All Conference team included Ashley, Coates, Price, Jeremy Chandler, Erik Dandy, Jon Frazier, and Daniel Withrow.[3]
^2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
^"Div. I-AA poll". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. December 24, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
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