The 1956 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1956 college football season.

Led by first-year head coach Jim Sutherland, the team posted a 3–6–1 overall record, and were 2–5–1 in the Pacific Coast Conference.

[1][2] Hired in January, Sutherland was previously an assistant at rival Washington for a season under head coach John Cherberg, preceded by two years at California under Pappy Waldorf.

His initial contract with the Cougars was for three years, estimated at $12,000 per year,[3][4] and he led the program for eight seasons, through 1963.

This college football 1950s season article is a stub.