2023 Keiser Seahawks football team

2023 Keiser Seahawks football
NAIA champion TSC champion
NAIA Championship Game, W 31–21 vs. Northwestern (IA)
Conference	Sun Conference
Record	12–2 (7–0 TSC)
Head coach	Doug Socha (6th season)
Defensive coordinator	Robbie Owens (2nd season)
Home stadium	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field

2023 Sun Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 3 Keiser $^		7	–	0					12	–	2
No. 15 St. Thomas (FL) ^		6	–	1					9	–	4
Florida Memorial		5	–	2					6	–	4
Southeastern		4	–	3					5	–	5
Ave Maria		2	–	5					4	–	6
Webber International		2	–	5					3	–	7
Warner		1	–	6					4	–	6
Thomas		1	–	6					1	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

The 2023 Keiser Seahawks football team represented Keiser University as a member of the Sun Conference during the 2023 NAIA football season. Led by 6th-year head coach Doug Socha, the Seahawks compiled an overall record of 12–2 with a mark of 7–0 in conference play; winning the Sun Conference.

Keiser beat St. Thomas (FL) in the first round, Bethel (TN) in the quarterfinals, and College of Idaho in the seminfinals before playing in the 2023 NAIA Football National Championship where they played Northwestern (IA) and won 31–21 to secure the school's first-overall title. Keiser played home games at Keiser Multi-Purpose Field in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	6:00 p.m.	Mississippi College*	No. 2	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL	L 14–17	1,450	[1]
September 9	12:00 p.m.	at No. 9 Lindsey Wilson*	No. 2	Parnell Stadium Columbia, KY	W 30–26	1,648	[2]
September 16	7:00 p.m.	at Valdosta State*	No. 4	Bazemore–Hyder Stadium Valdosta, GA	L 25–49	3,680	[3]
September 30	9:00 p.m.	Thomas	No. 7	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL	W 44–12	505	[4]
October 7	6:00 p.m.	No. 16 St. Thomas (FL)	No. 9	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL	W 21–14	1,500	[5]
October 14	6:00 p.m.	at Warner	No. 8	Tye Athletic Field Lake Wales, FL	W 69–6	0	[6]
October 21	6:00 p.m.	Southeastern	No. 7	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL	W 51–21	952	[7]
October 28	7:00 p.m.	at Ave Maria	No. 6	Gyrene Field Ave Maria, FL	W 54–7	2,281	[8]
November 4	6:00 p.m.	Webber International	No. 6	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL	W 59–17	777	[9]
November 11	1:00 p.m.	at Florida Memorial	No. 4	Betty T. Ferguson Stadium Miami Gardens, FL	W 44–13	300	[10]
November 25	1:00 p.m.	No. 13 St. Thomas (FL)*	No. 3	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL (NAIA First Round)	W 45–21	1,405	[11]
December 2	1:00 p.m.	No. 7 Bethel (TN)*	No. 3	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL (NAIA Quarterfinal)	W 56–14	969	[12]
December 9	1:00 p.m.	No. 11 College of Idaho*	No. 3	Keiser Multi-Purpose Field West Palm Beach, FL (NAIA Semifinal)	W 28–21	1,158	[13]
December 18	12:00 p.m.	No. 1 Northwestern (IA)*	No. 3	Durham County Memorial Stadium Durham, NC (NAIA Championship Game)	W 31–21	1,183	[14]
*Non-conference game Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern Standard time

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Coaching staff

Keiser Seahawks
Name	Position	Consecutive season at Keiser in current position	Previous position	KU profile
Doug Socha	Head coach	6th	Oxbridge Academy (FL) head coach (2012–2015)	[16]
Myles Russ	Assistant head coach, running backs coach, and recruiting coordinator	6th	Robert Morris running backs coach (2012–2015)	[17]
Robbie Owens	Defensive coordinator	2nd	Helix HS (CA) head coach (2007–2021)	[18]
Jalani Lord	Offensive line coach and run game coordinator	6th	Seminole Ridge HS (FL) offensive coordinator (2009–2015)	[19]
Justin Hilliker	Defensive line coach and special teams coordinator	2nd	Keiser tight ends coach (2019–2021	[20]
Chris Ortiz	Wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator	1st	West Florida running backs coach (2022)	[21]
Mickey O'Rourke	Defensive backs coach	5th	Oxbridge Academy (FL) defensive backs coach (2014–2016)	[22]
Myles Notkin	Quarterbacks coach	2nd	Florida Atlantic offensive analyst (2021)	[23]
Nick Vagnone	Linebackers coach	2nd	Wingate defensive graduate assistant (2020–2021)	[24]
Caleb Ackley	Tight ends coach	1st	Maine assistant offensive line coach and assistant quarterbacks coach (2021–2022)	[25]
Matthew Sorrentino	Offensive analyst	1st	N/A	[26]
Reference:[27]

References

1. "MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE (1-0) -VS- # 2 KEISER (0-1)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
2. "# 2 KEISER (1-1) -VS- # 9 LINDSEY WILSON (1-1)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
3. "# 4 KEISER (1-2) -VS- VALDOSTA STATE (3-0)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
4. "THOMAS (GA.) (0-3 , 0-1) -VS- # 7 KEISER (2-2 , 2-2)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
5. "# 16 ST. THOMAS (3-3 , 1-1) -VS- # 9 KEISER (3-2 , 2-0)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
6. "# 8 KEISER (4-2 , 3-0) -VS- WARNER (FL) (3-3 , 0-3)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
7. "SOUTHEASTERN (4-3 , 3-1) -VS- # 7 KEISER (5-2 , 4-0)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
8. "# 6 KEISER (6-2 , 5-0) -VS- AVE MARIA (FL) (4-4 , 2-3)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
9. "WEBBER INT'L (2-7 , 1-5) -VS- # 6 KEISER (7-2 , 6-0)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
10. "# 4 KEISER (8-2 , 7-0) -VS- FLORIDA MEMORIAL (6-4 , 5-2)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
11. "# 13 ST. THOMAS (9-4) -VS- # 3 KEISER (9-2)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
12. "# 7 BETHEL (TN) (11-2) -VS- # 3 KEISER (10-2)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
13. "# 11 COLLEGE OF IDAHO (10-3) -VS- # 3 KEISER (11-2)". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
14. "Keiser at Northwestern - Durham". naiastats.prestosports.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
15. "2023 Football Schedule". kuseahawks.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
16. "Doug Socha - Head Football Coach - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
17. "Myles Russ - Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
18. "Robbie Owens - Defensive Coordinator - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
19. "Jalani Lord - Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
20. "Justin Hilliker - Defensive Line Coach / Special Teams Coordinator - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
21. "Chris Ortiz - Wide Receivers Coach / Pass Game Coordinator - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
22. "Mickey O'Rourke - Defensive Backs Coach/Academic Coordinator - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
23. "Myles Notkin - Quarterbacks Coach - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
24. "Nick Vagnone - Linebackers Coach - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
25. "Caleb Ackley - Tight Ends Coach - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
26. "Matthew Sorrentino - Offensive Assistant - No. 3 Football Coaches". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
27. "2023 No. 3 Football Roster". Keiser University Athletics. Retrieved December 18, 2023.