The Stony Brook Seawolves football program from 1984 to 1998 represented Stony Brook University during its first 15 years of college football competition. The team was known as the Patriots prior to the 1994 season. Stony Brook began playing in 1984 as an NCAA Division III independent. The team was a member of the Liberty Football Conference from 1988 to 1991 and the Freedom Football Conference (FFC) from 1992 to 1995 before returning to independent status in 1996. Stony Brook moved up to NCAA Division II competition in 1997, joining the Eastern Football Conference (EFC). In 1999, the Seawolves stepped up again, to the NCAA Division I-AA level as a member of the Northeastern Conference (NEC). Sam Kornhauser was the team's head coach throughout this entire period, coaching the team through the 2005 season.