The Valparaiso Beacons (Pioneer Football League) have named Andy Waddle as head coach. Waddle spent the last twelve seasons as head coach of NCAA Division III Marietta College (Ohio Athletic Conference).
When Waddle took over as head coach at Marietta in 2013, the football program had six straight losing seasons and his tenure started much the same with four more losing seasons. The Pioneers were 8-33 overall and 7-29 in the OAC in Waddle’s first four years. Marietta broke through in 2017 with a 6-4 record that led to Coach of the Year honors and finished one game better in 2018 going 7-3.
After three mediocre seasons from 2019 through 2021, Waddle posted three more winning seasons from 2022 through 2024. The last two seasons saw the Pioneers post back-to-back 8-win campaigns for the first time in program history. Marietta has had four seasons with 8 or more wins and Waddle coached two of them. He was named OAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2023. Waddle went 55-61 overall and 48-56 in conference games and leaves Marietta as the second winningest coach in program history.
Waddle will replace Landon Fox after his contract wasn’t renewed. Fox went 21-42 overall and 16-26 in the PFL over his six seasons. Waddle will attempt to end Valparaiso’s PFL championship drought, which is currently at 22 seasons. The Beacons won the 2003 PFL Championship after defeating Morehead State 54-42 in the Championship Game.
Photo Credit to Marietta College Athletics
