Tim Clifton had been at the helm of the Mars Hill football program for more than three decades, and he collected over 170 career wins.
However, on Aug. 11, he announced his retirement.
The next day, the school revealed that the new man in charge would be Kevin Barnette, the team’s defensive coordinator for the past 31 years. Barnette also played for Mars Hill in the 1980s.
When the season kicks off in September, Barnette will be looking to help the squad to its fifth consecutive season with at least five wins in the South Atlantic Conference and at least make a run at a title in the new-look SAC format.
As the longest-tenured head coach in Division II football, Clifton led Mars Hill to a share of the SAC title in 2011 and a pair of Mountain Division titles in 2022 and 2023.
With the elimination of the two-division structure in 2025, there’s no better time for Barnette to lead the Lions back into the spotlight after a mediocre 2024 season.
Last year, Mars Hill was 5-4 overall and 5-2 in conference action, disappearing into the middle of the Mountain Division standings. The three years prior, the Lions were 8-3, 7-3 and 8-2, respectively.
Clifton, Barnette and the coaching staff signed almost 40 players for the 2025 season and will begin the new campaign at home Sept. 6 against Winston-Salem. Conference play will start the following week, also at home, against Carson-Newman.
The team’s 11-game slate will include seven home contests and four games on the road.
Mars Hill Football Schedule 2025
All Times Eastern
Sept. 6 (Sat): 6:30 p.m. vs. Winston-SalemSept. 13 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Carson-NewmanSept. 20 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. AndersonSept. 27 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Mary Hardin-BaylorOct. 4 (Sat): 6 p.m. at CatawbaOct. 11 (Sat): 2:30 p.m. vs. Emory & Henry – HomecomingOct. 18 (Sat): 6 p.m. at NewberryOct. 25 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Lenoir-RhyneNov. 1 (Sat): 2 p.m. at TusculumNov. 8 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Virginia-Wise – Senior DayNov. 15 (Sat): 3 p.m. at WingateWhat Was The Mars Hill Football Record In 2024?
5-4 (5-2 SAC)
Delta State 47, Mars Hill 16Lenoir-Rhyne 29, Mars Hill 21Mars Hill 34, Newberry 9Carson-Newman 28, Mars Hill 27Mars Hill 30, Tusculum 3Mars Hill 31, Virginia-Wise 17Mars Hill 31, Emory & Henry 23Mars Hill 31, Anderson 16Limestone 31, Mars Hill 262025 SAC Preseason Football Coaches’ PollLenoir-RhyneWingateCarson-NewmanEmory & HenryMars HillCatawbaNewberryAndersonUVA WiseTusculumHow To Stream Mars Hill Football Games In 2025
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When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?
The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.
The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas
College Football Rankings 2024 – Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll
End Of 2024 Season
Ferris St. (Mich.) (27) 14-1 Valdosta St. (Ga.) 13-1 Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2 Harding (Ark.) 12-2 Kutztown (Pa.) 11-1 Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2 Minnesota St. 11-4 Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-2 Central Oklahoma 11-2 Western Colorado 11-2 Virginia Union 10-4 California (Pa.) 10-3 Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-4 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-2 Charleston (W.Va.) 11-1 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 10-3 Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-3 West Alabama 9-2 Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-2 Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-3 Wingate (N.C.) 9-2 Miles (Ala.) 10-3 Ashland (Ohio) 9-4 Central Washington 8-4 Augustana (S.D.) 8-4
Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines, 56; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 47; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; West Florida, 20; Southern Arkansas, 16; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 14; New Haven (Conn.), 1; Truman St. (Mo.), 1.
Five Hours Of Division II Football Highlights | 2024 College Football Touchdowns
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