vmi played its first football game in 1871. the one-game season was a 4–2 loss to washington and lee university. there are no records of a coach or any players for that game. vmi waited another twenty years, until 1891, when head coach walter taylor would coach the next football team. the current head football coach at vmi, scott wachenheim, was named the 31st head coach on 14 december 2014. the keydets play their home games out of alumni memorial field at foster stadium, built in 1962. vmi's last winning football season was in 1981.