Denver Pioneers football, 1940–1949

1940–1949 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceMountain States Conference (1940–1947), Skyline Six (1948–1949)
Head coach

The Denver Ministers football program, 1940–1949 represented the University of Denver in college football during the 1940s as a member of the Mountain States Conference (1940–1947) and later the Skyline Six (1948–1949). The program was led by five head coaches during the decade: Cac Hubbard (1939–1941), Ellison Ketchum (1942), Mark Duncan (1943), Cac Hubbard and Adam Esslinger (1944), Cac Hubbard (1945–1947), and Johnny Baker (1948–1952).

Highlights of the decade included:

  • The 1940 team compiled a 6–2–1 record (4–1–1 against conference opponents), tied for second place in the MSC, and outscored opponents by a total of 155 to 93.
  • The 1942 team compiled a 6–3–1 and outscored opponents by a total of 182 to 98.
  • The 1945 team compiled a 4–5–1 record (4–1 against MSC opponents), won the MSC championship, lost to New Mexico in the Sun Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 201 to 182.
  • The 1946 team compiled a 5–5–1 record (4–1–1 against conference opponents), shared the MSC title with Utah State, lost to Hardin–Simmons in the 1947 Alamo Bowl, and was outscored by a total of 182 to 179.