 Chris Creighton |
CONTACT: Mike Mahon, 515-271-3014, mike.mahon@drake.edu
Chris Creighton, who ranks fourth among all active NCAA Division III football coaches in career winning percentage, has been named the 25th head football coach at Drake University.
Creighton served as head coach the past seven years at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., where he constructed a 63-15 record with teams winning four North Coast Athletic Conference championships, while competing in three NCAA Division III playoffs.
football coach is perfectly aligned with Drake Athletics’ emphasis on
integrity and excellence, and with the distinguished tradition of Drake
football,” said Drake President David Maxwell. “He has a superb record not only of wins on the field, but of
preparing young men for their lives after college and after football.
We are delighted that Chris and
his family are joining the Drake team.”
“Coach Creighton is a proven winner, a man of strong character, and has a vision that will move Drake football to the next level,” said Drake Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb.
Creighton, 38, owns an overall record of 95-24 (.798 winning percentage) in 11 years as a college head coach including a 32-9 mark as head coach at Ottawa (Kan.) University from 1997-2000.
“I am absolutely thrilled about the opportunity to lead the Drake University football program,” Creighton said. “I am very attracted to Drake’s sense of family, its proud tradition, and the desire of both the team and the administration to become our absolute best.”
During his last three years at Wabash, Creighton led the Little Giants to a 30-5 record including three straight league championships and appearances in the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs.
Wabash posted a 11-2 record this past fall, competing in the NCAA Division III playoffs while being ranked No. 8 in the final NCAA Division III coaches poll.
Wabash went 12-1 in 2002 and 11-1 in 2005, capping both seasons with appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
As offensive coordinator at Wabash, Creighton’s teams averaged 35 points per game with the multiple offense producing the school’s all-time leading rusher and passer. Three starting quarterbacks received All-American honors.
Under Creighton, Wabash won conference championships in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He coached 83 all-conference players, including seven who earned conference player of the year honors, along with 13 All-Americans.
He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2007, as well as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1997.
The Seattle, Wash., native produced one of the greatest single season turnarounds in NAIA history during his first year at Ottawa in 1997. He inherited a team that posted a 1-8 record the previous season, then finished 9-2 en route to capturing its first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title since 1972.
He also led Ottawa to a conference championship in 2000 along with appearances in the NAIA playoffs in 1997 and 2000.
Creighton served as offensive coordinator at Concordia (Ill.) from 1991-92 and Manchester (Ind.) from 1993-96 before becoming head coach at Ottawa.
As an All-American quarterback, Creighton led Kenyon (Ohio) College to its only North Coast Athletic Conference title in 1989. He was named the league’s player of the year after setting single-season conference records for passing yardage (2,843) and touchdowns (29).
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College in 1991 and a master’s degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in 1993.
Chris and his wife, Heather, have two daughters, Hallie, 3; and Kate, 1; and a son Luke who was born this past June 28.
Year-By-Year Head Coaching Record
- 1997 Ottawa 9-2, NAIA playoffs
- 1998 Ottawa 8-2
- 1999 Ottawa 6-3
- 2000 Ottawa 9-2, NAIA playoffs
- 2001 Wabash 8-2
- 2002 Wabash 12-1, NCAA Division III playoffs
- 2003 Wabash 7-3
- 2004 Wabash 6-4
- 2005 Wabash 11-1, NCAA Division III playoffs
- 2006 Wabash 8-2
- 2007 Wabash 11-2, NCAA Division III playoffs
Career Record: 95-24 (.798 winning percentage)
Ottawa Record: 32-9 (.780 winning percentage)
Wabash Record: 63-15 (.807 winning percentage)