The Doane College football program got its start in 1891 when they hosted the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Crete. Doane lost the game 18-0. The Tigers first win came against Hastings College, 36-0. The first winning season in the college's history was in 1895 when the team went 3-2. Football at Doane took a tragic hit in 1896 with the death of Bert Serf during a game against the University of Kansas. It wasn't until 1899 that football was reinstated at Doane. The only other time football was not played at Doane was in 1917-18 due to World War I.
Doane found success from 1925-30 under the direction of Ward Haylett and Roy Pierce. During those five years, the Tigers compiled a record of 26-9.
However, the greatest success in Doane football history occurred from 1966-69 when the Tigers went 33-0-2. Doane's success was not rewarded as they were never invited to the NAIA playoffs. They received two Mineral Water Bowl bids in 1967 & 1968. In 1968, the Tigers played Central Missouri State in the Mineral Water Bowl. Doane came away victorious 10-0. Their undefeated streak received national recognition by Sports Illustrated, which did a two-page story on the program in the issue printed for October 13, 1969.
The first playoff appearance in Doane history came in 1972. Doane went 10-0 during the regular season and faced off against Missouri Southern University in the semifinals of the NAIA Playoffs. MSU defeated the Tigers 24-6.
From 1973-92, Doane posted a .543 winning percentage. They posted seven wins twice during that time. In 1993, the Tigers went 9-0 during the regular season and advanced to the NAIA Playoffs for the first time since 1972. Doane picked up their first playoff victory by defeating Bethany College 17-10. Baker University ended the season for Doane in the next round with a 28-21 win.
In 1997, Doane returned to the playoffs, this time poised for a championship run. The Tigers ran through Southwest Kansas University and Evangel in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Tigers traveled to Findlay, Ohio, for a semifinal battle with Findlay College. Findlay knocked Doane off 26-25 and advanced to the finals.
Despite suffering two conference losses in 1999, Doane was selected for the playoffs and faced off against Azusa Pacific University. APU defeated Doane in the First Round, 31-12.
Fran Schwenk led Doane to the three playoff appearances during the 1990s. He is the winningest coach in Tiger history with a 114-87-3 record. Al Papik, coach of the Tigers from 1955-71, went 80-52-9 during his tenure.