KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The anticipation is over for 10th-ranked Kutztown University football as the 2024 regular season is here. On the heels of the most successful season in program history last year, KU still wants to, and can, accomplish more in 2024.
 
The Golden Bears are coming off a historic season in which they won a program-record 12 consecutive games on their way to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East, PSAC and Super Region I titles. Kutztown advanced to the NCAA DII semifinals for the first time in program history before falling to top-ranked and eventual national runner-up Colorado School of Mines to finish the 2023 season with a 12-3 record.
 
The PSAC East and Super Region I Coach of the Year in 2023, Jim Clements, has guided the Golden Bears to nine straight winning seasons and enters his 10th season overall at the helm.
 
Kutztown returns East Freshman of the Year in quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), along with All-PSAC performers in Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), Adam Kase (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Billy Everitt (Abington, Pa./Abington). Kase, along with CJ Brown (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville), were named to D2 Football's Elite 100 watch list heading into the season. This is a group that will be expected to lead the Maroon and Gold.
 
"I think every year your returners are going to take from the previous season," said Clements. "Having that experience, playing 15 games last season. That was a long year, but there are a lot of guys back that gained a lot of valuable in-game experience that you can't match. This group knows what it takes. Coming off an 0-2 start (last season) to get to the NCAA Semifinal Round gave our guys a lot of faith in what we do here and what we can accomplish with hard work."
 
So, with all that was accomplished last season, what is the 2024 edition capable of and looking to accomplish?
 
"Our goals stay the same every year since I've been here," Clements said. "It starts with winning with the PSAC East [Division]. If we do that, it gives us the opportunity to play for the [PSAC] championship. And if we're in that game, there's a pretty good chance we make it into the NCAA playoffs. But we want to take every game one week at a time. Playing for championships is what we do here at KU."
 
The Golden Bears open their 2024 campaign with a Thursday night matchup against Assumption at Andre Reed Stadium at 7:30 p.m., on Sept. 5.