The Wayne State Warriors football program, 2020–present represented Wayne State University during the 2020s in NCAA Division II college football as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team was led by two head coaches: Paul Winters who held the post from 2004 to 2022; and Tyrone Wheatley who took over as head coach in 2023.
The team played its home games at Tom Adams Field in Detroit. The field was named after Thomas B. Adams, a Wayne State football and track athlete who became a decorated naval aviator in World War II.[1]
2020
Wayne State and the GLIAC did not compete in football during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
The 2021 Wayne State Warriors football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. In their 17th season under head coach Paul Winters, the Warriors compiled a 2–9 record (2–5 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 361 to 265.[2][3]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
| 6:00 p.m. | No. 5 Slippery Rock* | | L 21–24 | 2,431 |
|
September 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Truman State* | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 9–27 | 1,974 |
|
September 18 | 2:00 p.m. | at Missouri S&T* | | L 45–51 OT | 1,516 |
|
September 25 | 6:00 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 21–41 | 2,932 |
|
October 2 | 4:00 p.m. | at Northern Michigan | | L 19–26 | 2,494 |
|
October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | Michigan Tech | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 27–30 | 3,674 |
|
October 16 | 12:00 p.m. | at Davenport | | W 16–3 | 688 |
|
October 23 | 3:00 p.m. | at Saginaw Valley State | | L 25–41 | 4,200 |
|
October 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Northwood | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| W 56–21 | 1,945 |
|
November 6 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 7 Grand Valley State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 13–62 | 2,436 |
|
November 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Ferris State | | L 13–35 | 1,743 |
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[3]
2022
The 2022 Wayne State Warriors football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. In their 18th and final season under head coach Paul Winters, the Warriors compiled a 1–9 record (0–6 in conference games) and finished last in the GLIAC.[4][5]
Winters stepped down as Wayne State's head coach after the 2022 season. He was 64 years old and had been a college football coach since 1982.[6]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Slippery Rock* | - Mihalik-Thompson Stadium
- Slippery Rock PA
| | L 10–42 | 7,112 |
|
September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | Shaw* | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | W 30–22 | 2,567 |
|
September 17 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 11 Wisconsin-La Crosse (DIII)* | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 21–28 | 1,982 |
|
September 24 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 3 Grand Valley State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 9–48 | 4,388 | [7]
|
October 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Northern Michigan | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 30–37 | 4,187 |
|
October 8 | 1:00 p.m. | at Michigan Tech | - Sherman Field
- Houghton, MI
| FloSports | L 34–35 | 2,291 |
|
October 15 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 27 Davenport | | | L 43–47 | 1,277 |
|
October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 24 Saginaw Valley State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 14–21 | 3,531 |
|
November 5 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Grand Valley State | - Lubbers Stadium
- Allendale, MI
| | L 14–42 | 9,154 | [8][9]
|
November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 6 Ferris State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 14–40 | 1,675 | [10]
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[5]
2023
The 2023 Wayne State Warriors football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their first season under head coach Tyrone Wheatley, the Warriors compiled a 3–8 record (2–4 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 361 to 191.[11][12]
The team's individual statistical leaders included Eli McLean (589 passing yards, 107.93 passer rating, 212 rushing yards), Jayden Waddell (423 passing yards, 129.66 passer rating, 329 rushing yards), Kendall Williams (538 rushing yards, four touchdowns), Te'Avion Warren (21 receptions for 292 yards), and Griffin Milovanski (66 points scored on 16 field goals and 18 extra points).[11]
Wheatley, a former star running back at Michigan, was hired as the head coach in January 2023.[13]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 2 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Slippery Rock* | | | L 17–28 | 6,611 |
|
September 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Missouri S&T* | | | W 31–24 | 2,231 |
|
September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Indianapolis* | | | L 7–28 | 2,242 |
|
September 23 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 28 Truman State* | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 7–41 | 2,158 |
|
September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 15 (NAIA) Concordia (MI)* | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 23–24 | 2,425 |
|
October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | Michigan Tech | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| FloSports | W 23–21 | 3,021 |
|
October 14 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 16 Davenport | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 3–32 | 1,738 |
|
October 21 | 2:00 p.m. | at Saginaw Valley State | | | L 10–17 OT | 3,079 |
|
October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northern Michigan | | | W 41–17 | 2,881 |
|
November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 3 Grand Valley State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| | L 10–66 | 2,158 |
|
November 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Ferris State | | FloSports | L 19–63 | 2,155 | [14]
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[12]
2024
The 2024 Wayne State Warriors football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season. In their second season under head coach Tyrone Wheatley, the Warriors compiled a 2–9 record (2–5 in conference games), finished in sixth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 342 to 223.[15][16]
Sophomore quarterback Champion Edwards completed 74 of 137 passes (54.01%) for 899 yards, six touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 111.91 passer rating. Edwards also led the team in rushing with 570 yards on 91 carries for an average of 6.3 yards per carry.[15] The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver Myles McKatherine (32 receptions for 514 yards) and kicker Griffin Milovanski (61 points on 12 field goals and 25 extra points).[15]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
| 6:00 p.m. | at Tiffin* | | L 17–31 | 2,950 |
|
September 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Findlay* | | L 30–42 | 1,915 |
|
September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 16 Indianapolis* | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 6–30 | 1,656 |
|
September 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at Truman State* | | L 17–31 | 2,343 |
|
October 5 | 12:00 p.m. | at Michigan Tech | | L 7–22 | 1,974 |
|
October 12 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 4 Ferris State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 14–27 | 2,121 | [17]
|
October 19 | 2:00 p.m. | at Davenport | | L 26–43 | 1,445 |
|
October 26 | 1:00 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| L 10–37 | 2,726 |
|
November 2 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Grand Valley State | | L 28–51 | 10,377 | [18]
|
November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Roosevelt | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| W 38–14 | 1,323 |
|
November 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Northern Michigan | - Tom Adams Field
- Detroit, MI
| W 30–14 | 1,115 |
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[16]
2025
The 2025 Wayne State Warriors football team will represent Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division II football season. They are expected to be led by Tyrone Wheatley in his third year as head coach.[19]
Schedule
[19]
References
- ^ "2012fbmg114126 (PDF)" (PDF). Wayne State University Athletics.
- ^ "2021 Football Cumulative Statistics". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "2021 Football Schedule". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "2022 Football Cumulative Statistics". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "2022 Football Schedule". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ Marlowe Alter (December 10, 2022). "Wayne State football will have new coach for first time in 2 decades". Detroit Free Press. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "No. 2 Grand Valley State handles Wayne State 48-9". WZZM 13. September 24, 2022.
- ^ Dan D'Addona (November 5, 2022). "No. 1 Grand Valley State football dominates Wayne State to remain unbeaten". The Holland Sentinel.
- ^ "Grand Valley completes season sweep of Wayne State". The Detroit News. November 5, 2022.
- ^ Josh VanDyke (November 14, 2022). "Ferris State football rolls past Wayne State in regular-season finale". Mlive.com.
- ^ a b "2023 Football Cumulative Statistics". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "2023 Football Schedule". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ Rainer Sabin (January 27, 2023). "Wheatley taking the long view at Wayne State". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 8C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Josh VanDyke (November 12, 2023). "Ferris State football cruises past Wayne State in regular-season finale". Mlive.com.
- ^ a b c "2024 Football Cumulative Statistics". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "2024 Football Schedule". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ Josh Van Dyke (October 13, 2024). "Ferris State football overcomes weather delay, pesky Wayne State in road win". Mlive.com.
- ^ Patrick Nothaft (November 4, 2024). "GVSU football returns to top 5 in Division-II rankings after Wayne State win". Mlive.com.
- ^ a b "2025 Football Schedule". WSU Athletics. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
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