Tarleton State University Athletics

Todd Whitten is the all-time winningest head coach in Tarleton State football history, now entering his 17th season as the leader of the Texans in 2026. This marks his 22nd season as an NCAA head coach (other five seasons were at Sam Houston) and his 39th season of coaching football at any level.
 
Whitten signed an extension in February 2026, tying him to Tarleton State through 2029. He is the winningest coach in Tarleton State Football history, now with a 126-59 (.681) all-time record for the Purple and White across 16 seasons, and a 151-87 (.634) spot all-time as an NCAA head coach (21 seasons). He's won seven Coach of the Year awards, six coming straight from the conference itself. Since 2018, the Texans have had the highest winning percentage among all Texas D1 and D2 programs (.745, 70-24). Among Whitten's 16 completed seasons at Tarleton State, his team has finished .500 or better 15 times. The Texans have reached double-digit wins seven times in program history – Whitten has been the head coach for five of those seasons.
 
The Texans just posted a historic campaign in 2025. The Texans won a United Athletic Conference co-championship and finished with the tied-most wins in Tarleton State Football history (12). The Texans went 12-2 overall and 7-1 in UAC play, advancing to the FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals in just their second year of D1 postseason eligibility. Tarleton State became the first FCS team since 1993 (Troy) to make the quarterfinals in one of its first two seasons of playoff eligibility (8+ team format in FCS). The Texans are the first active FCS program to accomplish that feat since 1985 (Eastern Washington). Tarleton State won a pair of nationally televised games (42-0 at Portland State on ESPN2 during Week 0, 30-27 OT at Army on CBS Sports Network during Week 1), set record crowds at Memorial Stadium, and were ranked as high as No. 2 in the national polls. Offensively, the Texans were one of the best teams in the nation, ranked No. 1 in scoring (42.4 points per game), No. 8 in total offense (457.6 YPG), No. 16 in passing offense (263.6 YPG), and No. 18 in rushing offense (193.9 YPG). Turnovers and takeaways were a major reason for Tarleton State's historic campaign. On offense, the Texans turned the ball over just nine times, the tied-fifth fewest amount of turnovers lost across the FCS. On the flip side, Tarleton State earned 39 takeaways, by far the most in the FCS with the next closest team at 28. The Texans' 38 takeaways are the most by an FCS team since 2017 (James Madison with 44). Tarleton State averaged a turnover margin of +2.14, the third highest average turnover margin in FCS history. Furthermore defensively, Tarleton State was No. 8 in pass defense (163.9 YPG allowed), 10th in scoring defense (18.6 PPG allowed) and No. 21 in total defense (331.4 YPG allowed). Whitten finished top-five in the voting for the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award, which goes to the national coach of the year.
 
The Texans also posted a historic campaign in 2024, going 10-4 overall and 6-2 in United Athletic Conference play, winning their FCS Playoffs debut against Drake before dropping a tight contest at No. 4 South Dakota in Vermillion in the second round. It was the longest regular season in program history both in number of games played and number of days on the calendar, with Tarleton State opening on Week 0 (a 26-23 win over McNeese on ESPN2) on Aug. 23, and finishing with a 42-31 loss at South Dakota on Dec. 7. On Nov. 30, 13-seed Tarleton State hosted Drake in the first round of the FCS Playoffs  winning 43-29 at Memorial Stadium. The Texans became the fifth team in the history of the FCS Playoffs (Division I-AA Playoffs), which goes back 46 years, to win their first playoff game at the FCS level in their first year eligible after reclassifying from NCAA Division II. Two of those five teams comprised of the four-team playoff field in that initial round of the FCS Playoffs – Florida A&M and UMass, in 1978. The other two programs are currently in the FBS; Troy in 1993 and UCF in 1990. The Texans earned the No. 13 seed in the FCS Playoffs among the 24-team field across 129 FCS programs in just their first year of championship eligibility. They had become just the first team fresh off of reclassification to make the playoffs since 2009 (South Dakota State). Tarleton State was named No. 12 in the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll of the season, and No. 13 in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll of the season. Tarleton State was ranked in both polls every single week of the 2024 campaign, from the preseason through the postseason. The Texans were just one of 11 teams nationwide to never leave the polls, joined by Idaho, Illinois State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, UC Davis, UIW and Villanova. Tarleton State started 2024 7-1, finishing second in the UAC. Across the board, Tarleton State was ranked No. 22 in total offense and they forced the tied-third most turnovers. Tarleton State had both the leading receiver (Darius Cooper at 1,450 yards) and the leading rusher (Kayvon Britten at 1,982) across all of the FCS.
 
In 2023, the Texans went 8-3 overall, 4-2 in conference play. The Texans finished tied-second in the United Athletic Conference, despite being picked to finish sixth in the 2023 Preseason UAC Coaches Poll, and would have likely received an FCS playoff at-large bid, if eligible. Whitten’s success helped earn him UAC Coach of the Year honors and become one of 20 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award. A major milestone in Whitten’s career came on Sept. 30 when the Texans defeated Southeastern Louisiana for his 100th win as Tarleton State’s head coach. This made him the 12th coach among current D1 schools in Texas to reach 100 wins with one program. Four weeks later, Whitten led the Texans to a major team accomplishment. Their win over Central Arkansas made them only the third football program since 2004 to post a winning season in each year of their four-year reclassification, joining North Dakota State and South Dakota State. After starting the season 4-3, the Texans finished strong on a four-game winning streak. The two road wins came by a combined margin of three points, while the two at home were each won by 42 points. Perhaps the most entertaining of the bunch was the season finale against Abilene Christian, where Whitten helped engineer a 16-point fourth quarter comeback. This was the team’s largest comeback win in the Division I era, which put a bow on their four years being non-postseason eligible. Tarleton State had it going across all three phases in 2023, ranked first in the conference in yards per play (6.4, 11th most nationally), first in rush yards per game (201.7, 12th nationally), first in rush touchdowns (25, 16th nationally), second in points per game (33.3, 13th nationally), second in yards per game (430.5, 14th nationally) and second in yards per rush (5.2, 17th nationally). Defensively, the Texans had the most defensive touchdowns in the conference (four, tied-fourth nationally), were first in fumbles recovered (11, tied-ninth nationally), first in yards per play (4.8, 17th nationally), first in sacks (26, tied-28th nationally), tied-third in takeaways (18, tied-36th nationally), tied-third in tackles for loss (65, tied-39th nationally), and fourth in scoring defense (24.5 points per game, tied-46th nationally). On special teams, Tarleton State was first in kickoff return (24.3 yards per return, eighth nationally) and second in punt return (18.2 yards per return, fourth nationally).
 
In 2022, the Texans averaged 436.8 yards per game, the best mark in the Western Athletic Conference. They scored 40+ points four times in 11 games, topping at 49 in the season finale in Tarleton State’s 42-point victory against Houston Christian in Stephenville. In that game, Tarleton State’s lead running back Derrel Kelley III raced for 239 yards and two touchdowns, reaching the 1,000-yard milestone on the ground at the same time the Texans lead receiver Darius Cooper hit 1,000 yards as well. The Texans averaged the best rushing attack in the WAC at 174.6 yards per game and threw for the second most total passing yards at 2,883.
 
Whitten guided Tarleton State’s first NCAA Division I campaign in the unprecedented spring football season of 2021. The Texans went 5-3 in their first season at the FCS level and earned their first win over a Division I program against FBS Independent New Mexico State on Feb. 21. Tarleton State’s first Division I football team ran for 178.9 yards, threw for 231.9 yards and scored 31.9 points per game. Tarleton State’s win against Northeastern State (OK) on March 27 was a milestone moment for Whitten and the program. Whitten became Tarleton State’s all-time leader in games coached and secured the program’s 500th all-time victory.
 
Whitten ended Tarleton State’s Division II era with back-to-back undefeated regular season Lone Star Conference Championships. In 2019, Whitten guided the Texans to their second consecutive undefeated regular season and Lone Star Conference Championship to earn his fifth LSC Coach of the Year award. On Sept. 29, Tarleton State blasted UT Permian Basin in Odessa 49-7 to deliver Whitten’s 72nd career coaching win to break W.J. Wisdom’s school record of 71 that had stood tall since 1935. Tarleton State boasted the fourth-best scoring offense in the country (45.0 PPG) and had 10 different players named to five different All-America teams, including WR Zimari Manning who made a clean sweep with five, first-team All-America honors. Whitten’s Texans set a new program standard by moving up to the No. 3 ranking in the country by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The Texans finished the season ranked No. 9 in the country.
 
In just his third season back with the Texans (2018), Whitten led the biggest turnaround in the country and guided the Texans to their best season in program history. The Texans posted the first of two straight undefeated regular seasons en route to the first outright Lone Star Conference title in program history. Tarleton State had regular season road wins at No. 7 Texas A&M-Commerce – the defending National Champions – and No. 10 Midwestern State to claim the conference title. The Texans outscored opponents 45-16 per game and the Texans set numerous program records for total points (585), rushing yards (4,301) and total yards (6,709) to have a top-five offense in the country. Tarleton State earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division II football playoffs – the highest seed in program history. The Texans hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA playoffs, coming away with victories over No. 24 Azusa Pacific (58-0) and a rematch with No. 15 Texas A&M-Commerce (34-28). It was the first time in school history the Texans won 12 games in a season and advanced to the NCAA regional finals. Tarleton State ended the season with the highest ranking in program history, finishing ranked No. 5 in the AFCA poll. Tarleton State boasted a school-record 24 all-conference players that season, including six All-Americans.
 
In just his final two seasons in NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference, Whitten’s Texans were not without their fair share of league, region and national accolades. Tarleton State had 45 all-LSC selections in those two seasons, including the 2019 LSC Offensive Player of the Year (QB Ben Holmes), 2019 LSC Receiver of the Year (WR Zimari Manning), 2019 LSC Defensive Player of the Year (DE B.J. Jefferson), 2019 LSC Defensive Lineman of the Year (DT Jordan Wells), 2018 LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year (OT Deon Sheppard) and back-to-back LSC Offensive Backs of the Year (RBs Xavier Turner and Daniel McCants) and LSC Defensive Backs of the Year (CBs Devin Hafford and Prince Robinson). Tarleton State had 16 All-Americans in those two seasons, all of which earned regional acclaim in addition to the national. In 2019, Zimari Manning had the highest finish by a WR in the Harlon Hill voting since 1991 by finishing third in the race for the best player in NCAA Division II.
 
Whitten made his return to the Tarleton State on Dec. 3, 2015, and was tasked with turning around the program. This marked the 28th head coaching change in the history of Tarleton State football, as Whitten became one of 24 different men to lead the Texans. He joined legendary coach W.J. Wisdom as one of two coaches with three different tenures as Tarleton State’s head football coach.
 
“I’m coming home,” said Whitten at the time of his hiring. “I’m very excited to be back at Tarleton. This is a very special place and it’s an incredible job. I’m very thankful to be chosen.”
 
He made an immediate impact in his return by resurrecting a 3-7 season from the year before and led Tarleton State into the final two games of the season with a chance to win the Lone Star Conference championship in his first season back. He followed up in 2017 by leading Tarleton State to its first winning regular season since 2013 and the fifth bowl game invitation in program history.
 
During his first two stints at Tarleton State, Whitten was no stranger to awards and championships.
 
Before taking over the program in 1996 for one season, Tarleton State had a record of 4-16-1 since joining the NCAA in 1994. Whitten turned things around following a 1-10 season in 1995 by leading the Texans to a 5-5 record in his first season, which was enough to garner him the LSC Coach of the Year award for that season.
 
After a three-year hiatus as the offense coordinator for Wyoming and Sam Houston State, Whitten made his return to Stephenville to build Tarleton State into a national powerhouse. Whitten came back in 2000 and turned Tarleton State around once again with a 6-5 record to open the new century.
 
In the second season of his return stint, Whitten’s Texans entered uncharted territory with a 10-3 mark to claim the school’s first Lone Star Conference championship and division championship en route to their first trip to the NCAA playoffs. He would go on to boast a record of 17-6 over the next two seasons, each of which garnered his third and fourth LSC Coach of the Year awards, and Tarleton State returned to the NCAA playoffs in 2003.
 
Before becoming a coach, Whitten was a star athlete at Dallas Kimball High School and Stephen F. Austin University – where he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a three-year starter at quarterback and a three-year starter in the outfield during baseball season. He was drafted in the 17th round of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft by Philadelphia out of Kimball High School, but declined to make his way to Stephen F. Austin. After his dual-sport career with the Lumberjacks, Whitten signed a free agent contract to play quarterback for the New England Patriots in 1987.
 
After playing for the Patriots in 1987, Whitten traded the helmet for the headset as he went back to school as a graduate assistant coach at Texas Tech to begin his coaching career. He earned his first full-time coaching job at New Mexico State in 1990, where he spent four seasons before heading to El Paso, where he spent two seasons at UTEP.
 
Whitten left UTEP for his first head coaching position at Tarleton State in 1996 before leaving for Wyoming the following year.
 
After his second stint at Tarleton State from 2000-04, Whitten returned to Sam Houston for his first Division I head coaching opportunity. He spent five seasons with the Bearkats. From there, he spent two seasons at Lamar, one year at Arlington Heights High School, and the last three years at UTEP before coming back to Tarleton State in December 2015.
 
Whitten earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin in 1987 and a master’s degree in sports administration from Texas Tech in 1990. He resides in Stephenville with his wife, Dana. The couple has three sons – Brady, Blaze, and Tate – and a daughter, Maddie.


 

The Todd Whitten File
	Hometown		Dallas, Texas
	High School		Kimball High School ('82)
	College		Stephen F. Austin ('87)
	Family		Wife: Dana
			Children: Brady, Blaze, Tate, Maddie
Coaching History
	Year(s)		School	Position
	1988-89		Texas Tech	Graduate Assistant
	1990-93		New Mexico State	QB Coach
	1994-95		Texas-El Paso	RB Coach
	1996		Tarleton State	Head Coach
	1997-98		University of Wyoming	Offensive Coordinator
	1999		Sam Houston State	Offensive Coordinator
	2000-04		Tarleton State	Head Coach
	2005-09		Sam Houston State	Head Coach
	2010-11		Lamar University	Offensive Coordinator
	2012		Arlington Heights High School	Head Coach
	2013-15		Texas-El Paso	WR Coach
	2016-Present		Tarleton State	Head Coach

Coach Award History
	Year		Award
	1996		LSC Coach of the Year
	2001		LSC South Division Coach of the Year
			West Region Coach of the Year (D2Football.com)
	2002		LSC North Division Coach of the Year
	2003		LSC North Division Coach of the Year
	2019		LSC Coach of the Year
	2023		UAC Coach of the Year

NCAA Head Coaching Record
	Year		School	Overall	Conf	Home
	1996		Tarleton State	5-5	2-5	4-2
	2000		Tarleton State	6-5	5-4	5-1
	2001		Tarleton State (NCAA Playoffs)	10-3	8-1	4-1
	2002		Tarleton State	9-2	6-2	6-0
	2003		Tarleton State (NCAA Playoffs)	8-4	6-2	4-2
	2004		Tarleton State	7-4	6-3	3-2
	2005		Sam Houston State	3-7
	2006		Sam Houston State	6-5
	2007		Sam Houston State	7-4
	2008		Sam Houston State	4-6
	2009		Sam Houston State	5-6
	2016		Tarleton State	5-6	5-4	3-3
	2017		Tarleton State	6-6	4-4	3-2
	2018		Tarleton State (NCAA Regional Finals)	12-1	8-0	8-0
	2019		Tarleton State (NCAA Playoffs)	11-1	8-0	5-1
	2020		Tarleton State (Inaugural Division I Season; COVID Spring Season)	5-3	N/A	3-3
	2021		Tarleton State (First WAC Season)	6-5	2-3	5-1
	2022		Tarleton State	6-5	1-3	4-2
	2023		Tarleton State	8-3	4-2	4-1
	2024		Tarleton State (FCS Playoffs 2nd Round)	10-4	6-2	5-2
	2025		Tarleton State (FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals)	12-2	7-1	7-1
	Total		Tarleton State:  16 yrs	126-59	78-36	73-24
			NCAA: 21 yrs	151-87