Ohio Northern University started its football program all the way back in 1893. That year they played one game against Deming-Freeman and won 24-0 for their first win in the institutions history. A fun fact about that game is that Ohio Northern did not have a head coach for their first win. In their second season in 1894, Ohio Northern played two games. The first game was against Findlay College in which Ohio Northern was victorious 20-6 and won their second game of the season against Lima YMCA 6-0 under head coach McCroy. This would be the only two games he coached at Ohio Northern, William Kreglow would be named the next head coach at Ohio Northern. Ohio Northern University is part of the Ohio Athletic Conference with nine other members such as Mount Union, John Carroll, and the newest member Wilmington. Ohio Northern is also a member of the NCAA Division III schools. Ohio Northern joined the OAC back in 1916 but left after the 1948 season. Ohio Northern was an independent team for the 1949 season before joining the MOL in 1950 which they remained until 1960. After leaving the MOL Ohio Northern remained an independent team in athletics from 1961 to 1975. It was in 1976 that Ohio Northern rejoined the Ohio Athletic conference in which they remain today.
Throughout its history, Ohio Northern has only had 27 head football coaches and currently Head Coach Dean Paul is the second winning-est head coach in the history of the program. He is just behind Tom Kaczkowski who is the longest tenured head coach at Ohio Northern at 17 seasons (86’-2002) and compiled a record of 93-79-2. Coach Paul who is in his 13th season at Ohio Northern came into this year only 9 wins behind Coach Kaz and should over take him next year for the most wins in school history.