Division I · Pioneer Football League
Valparaiso University Football
Valparaiso, IN · the NCAA Applications Administrators · Valparaiso University overview
132
Roster
27 over the D-I cap of 105
$1.6M
Team budget
2nd percentile in Division I
$11,815
Per roster spot
median $79,762
9
Coaches
1 head · 8 assistant
956
APR
93% of players retained
92%
Admitted
bottom quarter for selectivity
Valparaiso University fields a football team in the Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I). In 2024–25 the roster carried 132 players, above the median of 119, with 1 head coach and 8 assistants. Team expenses were $1,559,690, well below the median of $9.1M — $11,815 per roster spot, bottom quarter of Division I football programs. Under the Division I roster cap of 105 in force from 2025-26, that is 27 over — cuts or attrition are likely, though players already on the roster may stay (230 of 261 Division I programs carried more than the cap). The team's multi-year Academic Progress Rate is 956, about the median of 964, with 93% of players retained year to year. The school gave $1,524,460 in athletic aid across its men's teams, about $4,793 per roster spot.
Among Division I football programs
Where this program sits against its 261 peers (percentile; the tick is the median).
#255Team budgetof 261 · Division I#258Spend per playerof 261 · Division I#39Roster sizeof 261 · Division I#168APRof 261 · Division I
Team budgets across the division
this programevery Division I football program
Roster sizes (cap 105)
this programevery Division I roster
The program
- Roster132 2024–25 season
- Division I roster cap105 27 over last season
- Coaching staff1 head, 8 assistant
- Team expenses$1,559,690 for the year
- Operating expenses$415,538 game-day and travel
- Spend per roster spot$11,815 division median $79,762
- Academic Progress Rate956 multi-year; 956 latest
- Players retained93% year to year
- Eligible98% of player-terms
- Athletic aid, men's teams$1,524,460 school-wide
- Aid per roster spot$4,793 across men's teams
- Recruiting spend, men's$144,395 school-wide
Coaching staff
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Waddle head coach | Head Coach | not on file |
| Andy Waddle | Head Coach | not on file |
| Reed Florence | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | On file · sign in |
| Zach Feltrop | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach | On file · sign in |
| RJ Ghilarducci | Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach | On file · sign in |
| Terry Geiger | Wide Receivers Coach / Recruiting Coordinator | On file · sign in |
| Peter Nank | Offensive Line Coach | On file · sign in |
| Michael Joseph | Defensive Backs Coach | On file · sign in |
| Connor Vierstra | Tight Ends Coach | On file · sign in |
| Weston Bridges | Running Backs Coach | On file · sign in |
| Justin Schiets | Director of Football Operations / Defensive Assistant | On file · sign in |
| Nick Roseland | Volunteer Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers & Specialists) | On file · sign in |
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Recruiting timing
- Coaches may first contact youSeptember 1 of junior year
- Your own emailsAny time the rule limits what coaches send back
- High-school football players1,029,588 2024-25
- Division I roster spots31,184 261 programs
- Odds of a spot1 in 33 3.0% of high-school players hold a Division I roster spot
General NCAA rule for Division I; the football recruiting guide has the date for each grad year, the eligibility checklist and what to put in a first email.
About the school
What an athlete asks first — each panel opens the full picture.Campus
Full picture →2,255undergraduates · 2,846 students in all
Women 56% Men 44%
- Setting
- Suburb
- Type
- Private · Doctoral/professional university
- Affiliation
- Lutheran Church in America
Getting in
Full picture →92%admitted · of 6,133 applicants
SAT middle 50%1080 – 1310
ACT middle 50%25 – 30
- Test scores
- Test-optional
- Graduate in 6 yrs
- 67%
Football
Full picture →132on the roster · 2024–25 season
Roster vs the D-I cap of 105132
27 over — players already on the roster may stay
Academic Progress Rate956
93% of players kept year to year
- Team expenses
- $1,559,690 $11,816 per roster spot · bottom quarter of Division I
- Coaches
- 1 head · 8 assistant
- Athletic aid, men's teams
- $1,524,460
- Recruiting spend, men's
- $144,395
Cost
Full picture →$23,168net price · after grants, aided first-years
Net price by family income
- Tuition & fees
- $46,588
Campus safety
Full picture →0.78violent offences per 1,000 · students a year, 2022–2024
- In residence halls
- 1 burglaries · 5 sex offences over 2022–2024
- Residence-hall fires
- 2 over 2022–2024
Majors
Full picture →28%of bachelor's degrees in health professions & nursing · 24 fields · Associate's, Bachelor's, Doctorate, Master's
Research Valparaiso University
School pages built around what an athlete needs to know — the program's money and roster room, admissions fit, what a family really pays, majors, campus life and safety.
Football program132 on the rosterPeers, percentiles, nearby programs, comparisonsRankingsWhere it standsEvery list this school is on, nationally and in its divisionAdmissions92% admittedSAT/ACT ladders, test policy, graduationCost & aid$23,168 net priceSticker vs net price by family income, athletic aidMajorsHealth professions & nursing · 28%Every field and program with degrees awardedCampusSuburb · 2,255Setting, who is on campus, housing costs, servicesCampus safety0.78 violent / 1,000Three years of reported offences against the divisionAthleticsEvery teamThe whole department: every team, staff and aid
Football programs within 150 miles
| School | Miles | Roster | Budget | APR | Admitted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago State University Division I · Northeast Conference | 34 | — | — | — | 41% | |
| University of Chicago Division III · Midwest Conference | 37 | 92 | $767k | — | 5% | |
| Roosevelt University Division II · Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 42 | 126 | $2.9M | — | 94% | |
| University of Notre Dame Division I · Independent | 45 | 124 | $93M | 970 | 12% | |
| North Park University Division III · College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin | 49 | 110 | $745k | — | 73% | |
| Concordia University Chicago Division III · Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference | 50 | 84 | $423k | — | 93% | |
| Northwestern University Division I · Big Ten Conference | 52 | 109 | $38M | 995 | 7% | |
| Elmhurst University Division III · College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin | 56 | 84 | $634k | — | 76% | |
| Benedictine University (Illinois) Division III · Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference | 59 | 143 | $447k | — | 77% | |
| North Central College Division III · College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin | 61 | 142 | $1.1M | — | 58% | |
| Wheaton College (Illinois) Division III · College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin | 62 | 127 | $1.3M | — | 90% | |
| Lake Forest College Division III · Midwest Conference | 68 | 111 | $521k | — | 59% |
Other football programs in the Pioneer Football League
| School | Roster | Budget | Per player | APR | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College room for 5 | 100 | $2.6M | $25,889 | 982 | vs | |
| University of San Diego room for 6 | 99 | $2.4M | $24,052 | 977 | vs | |
| University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) 5 over cap | 110 | $2.3M | $20,791 | — | vs | |
| Stetson University 27 over cap | 132 | $2.3M | $17,211 | 968 | vs | |
| Marist University 4 over cap | 109 | $2.3M | $20,777 | 979 | vs | |
| University of Dayton 14 over cap | 119 | $2.2M | $18,650 | 991 | vs | |
| Presbyterian College 33 over cap | 138 | $1.8M | $13,158 | 970 | vs | |
| Morehead State University 24 over cap | 129 | $1.7M | $13,072 | 930 | vs | |
| Valparaiso University 27 over cap | 132 | $1.6M | $11,815 | 956 | vs | |
| Drake University 5 over cap | 110 | $1.5M | $13,589 | 969 | vs | |
| Butler University 14 over cap | 119 | $1.4M | $11,947 | 989 | vs |
Every Pioneer Football League football program · Football budgets ranked