In an era of constant coaching turnover in college football, Mars Hill University has stood apart.
When the 2000s began, Tim Clifton was already in charge of the Lions — and 25 seasons later, he’s still calling the shots. His tenure since the calendar rolled into 2000 has spanned 255 games: 137 wins, a South Atlantic Conference title and a Division II playoff appearance.
NC Football News begins a new series this month, 25-Year Rewind, a review of the last quarter century of college football in our state. We’ll start the journey by exploring the only North Carolina school who has had the same head coach during this entire stretch: the Division II Mars Hill Lions.
📊 Mars Hill Football: 25-Year Snapshot
| Year | Coach | Total W | Total L | Conf W | Conf L | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tim Clifton | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2023 | Tim Clifton | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | T-1st in Mountain Division |
| 2022 | Tim Clifton | 7 | 3 | 7 | 2 | Mountain Div. Champs, SAC Runner-up |
| 2021 | Tim Clifton | 8 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2020 | Tim Clifton | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2019 | Tim Clifton | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2018 | Tim Clifton | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2017 | Tim Clifton | 3 | 7 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2016 | Tim Clifton | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2015 | Tim Clifton | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Tim Clifton | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2013 | Tim Clifton | 3 | 8 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2012 | Tim Clifton | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2011 | Tim Clifton | 8 | 3 | 6 | 1 | T-1st in SAC, D2 Playoffs: L, North Greenville 58-32 |
| 2010 | Tim Clifton | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2009 | Tim Clifton | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2008 | Tim Clifton | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2007 | Tim Clifton | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2006 | Tim Clifton | 4 | 7 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2005 | Tim Clifton | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2004 | Tim Clifton | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2003 | Tim Clifton | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2002 | Tim Clifton | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2001 | Tim Clifton | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2000 | Tim Clifton | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | |
| TOTALS | 137 | 118 | 89 | 87 |
25-Year Totals (2000–24):
✅ Overall Record: 137–118 (.537)
✅ Conference Record: 89–87 (.506)
✅ Winning Seasons: 13
✅ Non-Losing Seasons: 15
📈 Program Trends:
- Best stretch: 2010–2012 (20-12 overall, SAC title, playoff berth)
- Recent resurgence: 23 wins from 2021–2023 with back-to-back division title contention.
- Toughest years: 2013–2018 (no winning seasons)
🏈 Signature Stars of the Past 25 Years
⭐ Jonas Randolph (RB, 2008–11)
The face of Mars Hill’s 2011 title run, Randolph was a record-breaking force and the most decorated player in program history.
- Harlon Hill Trophy winner (2011) – NCAA Division II’s National Player of the Year
- Set SAC single-season rushing record with 2,170 yards (197.3 ypg) in 2011
- Holds school and conference records for career rushing yards (5,608) and touchdowns (53)
- Logged 24 career 100-yard games and 10 200-yard performances
⭐ Jon Richt (QB, 2009–12)
- Passed for a school-record 8,261 yards and 68 touchdowns during his career
- Threw for 2,936 yards in 2012, the most in a single season
- Set school marks for career completions (569) and pass attempts (1,111)
⭐ Craig Rucker (WR, 2016–19)
- Set SAC all-time records with 294 receptions, 4,320 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns
- Scored 5 touchdowns vs. Limestone in 2018
- Finished with 97 catches for 1,300+ yards as a senior in 2019
⭐ Landon Honeycutt (LB, 2019–23)
One of the top defenders in D2 football in recent years, Honeycutt capped his Lions career with national honors.
- AFCA Second-Team All-American (2023) after a 107-tackle season
- Named SAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022
- Finished with 370 career tackles, 44.5 TFLs, 18 sacks and 4 forced fumbles
- Signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2024 and wore No. 35 during preseason action
💪 Khalid Abdullah (DL/LB, 2000–01)
- Set Mars Hill’s single-season sack record with 15 in 2000
- Recorded two 100-yard interception returns during his career
🔁 The Tim Clifton Era: Enduring and Evolving (and Still Going)
Few programs in America have enjoyed this kind of coaching continuity. Clifton has adapted through decades of changes — from ground-and-pound success with Randolph to aerial assaults with Richt, and now a balanced attack led by a relentless defense.
Under his leadership, the Lions have:
- Built a reputation as a tough, consistent program in the SAC
- Made their first NCAA playoff appearance (2011)
- Claimed a share of two conference/division titles
As the Lions prepare for 2025, Coach Clifton’s program remains steady — not flashy, but often in the mix. With recent success in the Mountain Division and a strong defensive core, Mars Hill continues to prove that stability can still win in college football.
Looking Ahead
As the Lions prepare for 2025, the pieces are in place for continued success. The South Atlantic Conference remains competitive, and the upcoming season will bring a full round-robin schedule among the 11 teams. But Mars Hill’s foundation — built on leadership, loyalty, and player development — gives them a fighting chance year after year.
✅ Up Next in the 25-Year Rewind Series:
Stay tuned as we rewind the past 25 years of other North Carolina college football programs, players and coaches — from perennial powers to rising challengers.
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