Navy Football looks to recover after a brutal two year stretch

Navy Football has posted a 7-15 record the last two seasons. Can the Midshipman regain their footing and find success again?

Navy football has not been at its best as of late. In 2019, the Midshipmen hit 11 wins. However, that season is sandwiched between three losing campaigns.

Under Ken Niumatalolo, now entering his 15th season as head coach, the Mids have been successful. Between 2008 and 2017, there was only one losing season in 2011. Highlights of his career include 10 wins over their most important rival Army and defeating Notre Dame three times. Niumatalolo is 6-5 in bowl games, the most recent being a victory in the 2019 Liberty Bowl.

Overall Navy football is 105-75 under Niumatalolo, making him the winningest coach in team history. So what has happened lately? Well, college football is changing. Two of the biggest changes in the sport, the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness, are a no go at Navy.

Because of the academy’s service requirements, Navy football cannot use the transfer portal to fill in roster gaps. NIL deals are illegal at the academy, so Navy is at a disadvantage compared to the rest of their conference brethren.

During the 2020 season, Covid-19 hit the team especially hard and it sputtered to a 3-7 record. Last year was not much better with a 4-8 finish.

This year is the first normal offseason for Navy since 2019. The Midshipmen have been good under Niumatalolo. There is no doubt he can coach. But he faces more challenges now than he did earlier in his career. Can he turn it around? Let’s break down this year’s team.