 Wofford head coach Jim Brakefield was hired as Appalachian State's head football coach in 1971.He led the Mountaineers into the Southern Conference in his first season.Brakefield led the Mountaineers to three losing seasons in four years en route to a 47–48–4 record at Appalachian State, however, a 3–8 campaign in 1979 resulted in his dismissal.