NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The American Football Coaches Association capped its 2013
convention by presenting its top coaching award — AFCA Coach of the Year — to
five outstanding coaches on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
The winners will be honored Tuesday evening at the AFCA Coach of
the Year Dinner at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, North Dakota State's Craig Bohl,
Valdosta State's David Dean, St. Thomas' Glenn Caruso and Morningside's Steve
Ryan are the 2012 AFCA National Coach of the Year winners. Kelly in FBS, Bohl
in FCS, Dean in Division II, Caruso in Division III and Ryan in NAIA.
Bohl is the fourth NDSU to earn AFCA Coach of the Year honors. He joins Don Morton (1983), Earle Solomonson (1986) and two-time winner Rocky Hager (1988 and 1990), who each received the Division II award.
In 2012, Bohl led the Bison to a 14-1 record, a second
straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title and a second straight
FCS national championship. In his 10 years at
North Dakota State, Bohl owns a 89-32 record, and those 89 victories place him
second on the school's all-time wins list. He earned the Eddie Robinson Award in 2012, AFCA FCS Regional Coach of
the Year honors in 2011, and was named Missouri Valley Football Conference
Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members
(coaches at four-year schools) in the Association's five divisions. The AFCA
has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is
the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the
only one chosen exclusively by the coaches themselves.
Brian Kelly led Notre Dame to a 12-1 record and an appearance in
the BCS National Championship game. He has a 199-68-2 overall record in his 22
seasons as head coach, with two Division II National Championships in 2002-03
at Grand Valley State, two Big East titles at Cincinnati and two AFCA Division
II Coach of the Year honors in 2002-03. In his three seasons as head coach for
the Fighting Irish, Kelly has led Notre Dame to 28-11 record.
David Dean led the Blazers to a 12-2 record in 2012 and the
program's third NCAA Division II national title in nine years, earning him AFCA
Division II Coach of the Year honors for the second time. With those 12 wins,
Dean brought his overall record to 54-17 and drew closer to Chris Hatcher's
program leading 76-win mark. He also earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
honors in 2010 after leading Valdosta State to eight wins, a NCAA Division II
playoff berth and the school's first conference title in six years.
Glenn Caruso led St. Thomas to a 14-1 record, its third
consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) championship
and its first appearance in the NCAA Division III national championship game.
Caruso has a five-year record of 57-8 at St. Thomas. The Tommies have recorded
three straight 10-0 regular seasons, making the first time that has been
accomplished in MIAC history. Caruso earned AFCA Regional honors in 2010 after
leading St. Thomas to a 12-1 mark and a trip to the NCAA Division III
quarterfinals.
Steve Ryan led Morningside to a 13-1 record and an appearance in
the NAIA national championship game this season to earn AFCA NAIA National
Coach of the Year honors for the first time, to go along with a second straight
AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honor. Ryan has an overall record of 98-31 in
his 11 years as head coach at Morningside, ranking him second on the school's
all-time wins list behind Jason Saunderson with 118. He guided the Mustangs to
a second straight Great Plains Athletic Conference title in 2012, and third
under his tutelage. Morningside has made nine straight appearances in the NAIA
playoffs under Ryan.
AFCF Grants
The full-time assistant coaches at the five schools represented by
the AFCA National Coach of the Year winners will each receive a $1,000 grant
from the American Football Coaches Foundation that can be used to further their
education or professional development.
Award History
Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf, then of Northwestern, was named as the
first AFCA Coach of the Year in 1935. One national winner was selected from
1935 through 1959.
From 1960 through 1982, two national winners were selected — one
representing the University Division and one from the College Division. From
1983-2005, four national winners were chosen.
In 2006, the AFCA started honoring an NAIA Coach of the Year,
giving us the five honorees we have today.
Prior to 2006, the NAIA was a part of the AFCA's Division II
membership category.
Oldest Award
The AFCA's Coach of the Year award is the oldest of all Coach of
the Year awards and is one of only two Coach of the Year awards recognized by
the NCAA in Football Bowl Subdivision and the only Coach of the Year award
recognized in the NCAA's three other divisions.
The NCAA does not select a “coach of the year” for college
football. When a coach is referred to as “NCAA Coach of the Year,” he is
usually the AFCA Coach of the Year winner.
All-Time Winners: A total of 152 men
representing 109 institutions have been honored by the AFCA as AFCA National
Coach of the Year since the program was established in 1935.
First Year Coach of the Year: Richmond's Mike London and Valdosta
State's David Dean are the only coaches to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year
honors in their first season as a head coach. Dean was the Division II
winner in 2007. London was the FCS winner in 2008.
Most Schools: Jim Tressel is the only coach to win AFCA National Coach of the
Year honors at two different schools, and the second to win the honor in two
different divisions. Tressel earned AFCA honors at Division I-A Ohio State in
2002 and Division I-AA Youngstown State in 1991 and 1994.
Two Divisions: Brian Kelly is the second coach to win AFCA National Coach of the
Year honors in two different divisions. He earned AFCA honors at Division II
Grand Valley State in 2002 and 2003, and FBS Notre Dame in 2012.
Top Individuals: Larry Kehres of Mount Union is the only coach in AFCA history to
win National Coach of the Year honors nine times. He has earned the award in
Mount Union's national championship seasons of 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2006 and 2008. Joe Paterno of Penn State earned his Division I-A
fifth National Coach of the Year Award in 2005 (1968-72-82-86).
Wisconsin-Whitewater's Lance Leipold (2007, 2009-10-11) joins Northwest
Missouri State's Mel Tjeerdsma (1998-99-2008-09) and Bob Reade of Augustana
(Ill.) College as the only four-time AFCA Coach of the Year winners. Reade
earned the honor in 1983-84-85-86 in College Division II (now Division III).
Notre Dame's Brian Kelly (2002-03, 2012), Carroll's Mike Van Diest (2003, 2007,
2010), Sioux Falls' Kalen DeBoer (2006, 2008-09), Appalachian State's Jerry
Moore (2005-06-07), Youngstown State and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel (1991,
1994, 2003), Alabama's Bear Bryant (1961, 1971, 1973) and North Alabama's Bobby
Wallace (1993-94-95) are the only three-time Coach of the Year winners. Kehres,
Leipold, Moore, Reade and Wallace are the only coaches to win the award in
three or more consecutive seasons.
Top Schools: Mount Union is the only institution to have a representative win
the AFCA National Coach of the Year Award nine times. Georgia Southern, North
Dakota State, Penn State and Wisconsin-Whitewater are the only schools with
five winners. Alabama, Augustana (Ill.), Grand Valley State, Michigan,
Northwest Missouri State, Ohio State and Wittenberg are four-time winners.
Larry Kehres has won all nine awards for Mount Union, while Joe
Paterno has won all five awards for Penn State. Paul Johnson (1999, 2000), Erk
Russell (1986, 1989) and Tim Stowers (1990) are Georgia Southern's honorees.
North Dakota State's national winners are Don Morton (1983), Earle Solomonson
(1986), Rocky Hager (1988, 1990) and Craig Bohl (2012). Lance Leipold's four
honors and Bob Berezowitz's 2005 National Coach of the Year award account for
Wisconsin-Whitewater's five honors. Mel Tjeerdsma accounts for all of Northwest
Missouri's awards. Lloyd Carr (1997), Fritz Crisler (1947), Bennie Oosterbaan
(1948) and Bo Schembechler (1969) are Michigan's winners. Bill Edwards (1962,
1963) and Dave Maurer (1973, 1975), his successor, are responsible for
Wittenberg being listed in the select group. Gene Stallings earned Coach of the
Year honors in 1992 to join three-time winner Bear Bryant as Alabama's winners.
Augustana's Reade accounts for all of his school's awards. Ohio State's Jim
Tressel joins Carroll Widdoes (1944), Woody Hayes (1957) and Earle Bruce
(1979) as one of the four Buckeye coaches to win the award. Chuck Martin
(2005-06) joins Brian Kelly (2002-03) as the winners from Grand Valley State.
Appalachian State (Jerry More, 2005-06-07),
Delaware (Tubby Raymond, 1971-72; K.C. Keeler, 2010), Furman (Dick Sheridan,
1985; Jimmy Satterfield, 1988; Bobby Johnson, 2001), North Alabama (Bobby
Wallace, 1993-94-95), Notre Dame (Frank Leahy, 1941; Ara Parseghian, 1964; Brian
Kelly, 2012), Sioux Falls (Kalen DeBoer 2006, 2008-09), USC (John McKay, 1962,
1972; Pete Carroll, 2003) and Valdosta State (Chris Hatcher, 2004; David Dean,
2007, 2012) are all in the exclusive group of schools having three winners
each.
Two-Timers: Jim Butterfield,
Ithaca (1988, 1991), David Dean, Bill Edwards, Joe Glenn, Northern Colorado
(1996-97), Rocky Hager, Paul Johnson, Chuck Martin, Dave Maurer, John McKay,
Harold “Tubby” Raymond, Darrell Royal, Texas (1963, 1970), Erk Russell and Andy
Talley, Villanova (1997, 2009) are the repeat winners.
Back-to-Back: Kalen DeBoer, Bill Edwards, Joe Glenn, Paul Johnson, Larry
Kehres, Brian Kelly, Lance Leipold, Chuck Martin, Jerry Moore, Tubby Raymond,
Bob Reade, Mel Tjeerdsma and Bobby Wallace are the only coaches to win national
honors in consecutive years. No FBS coach has won the award in consecutive
years. Kehres is the only coach to win three consecutive Coach of the Year
awards twice, while Tjeerdsma is the only coach to win two consecutive Coach of
the Year awards twice.
Fit to be Tied: In 2003, Brian Kelly and Mike Van Diest became the fourth duo in
the history of the AFCA National Coach of the Year award to finish in a tie for
the honor and the first non-I-A coaches to share the award. Larry Coker and
Ralph Friedgen finished in a tie for the honor in 2001. In 1964, Frank Broyles
of Arkansas and Ara Parseghian of Notre Dame shared the award and in 1970,
Charlie McClendon of Louisiana State and Darrell Royal of Texas were
co-winners.
AFCA Coach of the Year Bios
Football Bowl Subdivision
Brian Kelly, University of Notre Dame
First AFCA FBS National Coach of the Year Award ... Led the
Fighting Irish to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the BCS National
Championship game this season ... Has a 199-68-2 overall record in his 22 years
as a head coach at Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Grand Valley
State ... His 12 wins in the 2012 season mark the best season for the Fighting
Irish since 1988 ... Guided Cincinnati to a 34-6 record in his three years with
two Big East titles and earned three Big East Coach of the Year honors from
2007-09 ... Spent three seasons at Central Michigan with a 19-16 overall mark,
leading the Chippewas to a 9-4 mark and a Mid-American Conference title in 2006
... Head Coach at Grand Valley State for 13 years, leading the Lakers to a
118-35-2 record and two NCAA Division II National Championships in 2002 and
2003 ... Has led three different FBS teams to seven straight bowl games since
2006 ... Earned an overall record of 34-6 in three years as head coach at
Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to three bowl games, including two BCS bowl
games.
Previous National Coach of the Year Honors: Division II, Grand
Valley St., 2002, 2003
Previous Regional Coach of the Year Honors:
Division II, Grand Valley St., Region 3, 1998, 2001; FBS, Cincinnati, Region 1,
2008-09; Notre Dame, Region 3, 2012
Football Championship Subdivision
Craig Bohl, North Dakota State University
First AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year Award ... Led the Bison
to a 14-1 record, a second straight Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)
title and a second straight NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national
championship this season ... In 10 years at North Dakota State, Bohl's owns an
89-32 overall record ... Has guided the Bison to a 24-8 record against FCS
ranked teams, and a 10-1 mark in the FCS playoffs ... North Dakota State has
been ranked in the Top 5 for 42 weeks since moving to FCS in 2004, including 23
weeks at No. 1 ... Led the Bison to a Great West Football Conference title in
2006, and a 10-1 overall record in the program's third year in FCS play ...
Earned MVFC Coach of the Year honors for a second time in 2012, along with
being named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.
Previous Regional Coach of the Year Honors: FCS, Region 4, 2011
Division II
David Dean, Valdosta State University
Second AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year Award ... Led
the Blazers to their third NCAA Division II national title in nine years, and
second under Dean in 2012 ... Has a 54-17 overall record at Valdosta State,
which places him second on the school's all-times wins list ... Led Valdosta
State to a 8-3 mark, the Gulf South Conference title and a berth in the
Division II playoffs in 2010, earning him AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
honors for the first time ... Earned AFCA Division II Coach of the Year honors
in 2007 after leading the Blazers to a 13-1 record and a national championship
in his first season as a head coach.
Previous National Coach of the Year Honors: Division II, 2007
Previous Regional Coach of the Year Honors: Division II, Region
2, 2010
Division III
Glenn Caruso, University of St. Thomas
First AFCA Division III National Coach of the Year Award ... Led
the Tommies to a 14-1 record, its third consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference championship and its first NCAA Division III championship
appearance in the program's history ... St. Thomas finished No. 2 in the AFCA
Division III Coaches' Top 25 Poll, their highest ranking in school history ...
Has a five-year record of 57-8 at St. Thomas, and an overall record of 63-20
including his two seasons at Macalester ... The 14 victories in 2012 tied an
MIAC record for most wins in a season ... St. Thomas' 50 wins in the past four
years are the third most in Division III behind only Mount Union (57) and
Wisconsin-Whitewater (52).
Previous Regional Coach of the Year Honors: Division III, Region
5, 2010
NAIA
Steve Ryan, Morningside College
First AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year Award ... Led the
Mustangs to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the NAIA championship game this
season ... Has an 11-year career record of 98-31 at Morningside ... His 98
victories rank second on the school's all-time wins list ... Earned
AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2011 when he led the Mustangs to nine
wins, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title and a trip to the NAIA
playoffs for the eighth straight year ... Morningside has won three GPAC titles
under Ryan (2005, 2011-12), and he has been named Conference Coach of the Year
four times.
Previous Regional Coach of the Year Honors: Division II, Region 4,
2005; NAIA, Region 4, 2011, 2012
Past AFCA National Coach of the Year Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
1935 Lynn
Waldorf, Northwestern
1936 Dick
Harlow, Harvard
1937 Edward
E. Mylin, Lafayette
1938 Bill
Kern, Carnegie Tech
1939 Dr.
Eddie Anderson, Iowa
1940 Clark
Shaughnessy, Stanford
1941 Frank
Leahy, Notre Dame
1942 Bill
Alexander, Georgia Tech
1943 Amos
Alonzo Stagg, Pacific
1944 Carroll
Widdoes, Ohio St.
1945 Bo
McMillin, Indiana
1946 Red
Blaik, Army
1947 Fritz
Crisler, Michigan
1948 Bennie
Oosterbaan, Michigan
1949 Bud
Wilkinson, Oklahoma
1950 Charles
Caldwell, Princeton
1951 Charles
Taylor, Stanford
1952 Biggie
Munn, Michigan St.
1953 James
Tatum, Maryland
1954 Red
Sanders, UCLA
1955 Duffy
Daugherty, Michigan St.
1956 Bowden
Wyatt, Tennessee
1957 Woody
Hayes, Ohio St.
1958 Paul
Dietzel, Louisiana St.
1959 Ben
Schwartzwalder, Syracuse
1960 Murray
Warmath, Minnesota
1961 Paul
“Bear” Bryant, Alabama
1962 John
McKay, USC
1963 Darrell
Royal, Texas
1964 Frank
Broyles, Arkansas
Ara
Parseghian, Notre Dame (tie)
1965 Tommy
Prothro, UCLA
1966 Tom
Cahill, Army
1967 John
Pont, Indiana
1968 Joe
Paterno, Penn St.
1969 Bo
Schembechler, Michigan
1970 Charlie
McClendon, LSU
Darrell
Royal, Texas (tie)
1971 Paul
“Bear” Bryant, Alabama
1972 John
McKay, USC
1973 Paul
“Bear” Bryant, Alabama
1974 Grant
Teaff, Baylor
1975 Frank
Kush, Arizona St.
1976 Johnny
Majors, Pittsburgh
1977 Don
James, Washington
1978 Joe
Paterno, Penn St.
1979 Earle
Bruce, Ohio St.
1980 Vince
Dooley, Georgia
1981 Danny
Ford, Clemson
1982 Joe
Paterno, Penn St.
1983 Ken
Hatfield, Air Force
1984 LaVell
Edwards, Brigham Young
1985 Fisher
DeBerry, Air Force
1986 Joe
Paterno, Penn St.
1987 Dick
MacPherson, Syracuse
1988 Don
Nehlen, West Virginia
1989 Bill
McCartney, Colorado
1990 Bobby
Ross, Georgia Tech
1991 Bill
Lewis, East Carolina
1992 Gene
Stallings, Alabama
1993 Barry
Alvarez, Wisconsin
1994 Tom
Osborne, Nebraska
1995 Gary
Barnett, Northwestern
1996 Bruce
Snyder, Arizona St.
1997 Lloyd
Carr, Michigan
1998 Phil
Fulmer, Tennessee
1999 Frank
Beamer, Virginia Tech
2000 Bob
Stoops, Oklahoma
2001 Larry
Coker, Miami (Fla.)
Ralph
Friedgen, Maryland (tie)
2002 Jim
Tressel, Ohio St.
2003 Pete
Carroll, USC
2004 Tommy
Tuberville, Auburn
2005 Joe
Paterno, Penn St.
2006 Jim
Grobe, Wake Forest
2007 Mark
Mangino, Kansas
2008 Kyle
Whittingham, Utah
2009 Gary
Patterson, TCU
2010 Chip
Kelly, Oregon
2011 Les
Miles, LSU
Football Championship
Subdivision
1983 Rey
Dempsey, Southern Illinois
1984 Dave
Arnold, Montana St.
1985 Dick
Sheridan, Furman
1986 Erk
Russell, Georgia Southern
1987 Mark
Duffner, Holy Cross
1988 Jimmy
Satterfield, Furman
1989 Erk
Russell, Georgia Southern
1990 Tim
Stowers, Georgia Southern
1991 Jim
Tressel, Youngstown St.
1992 Charlie
Taaffe, The Citadel
1993 Dan
Allen, Boston University
1994 Jim
Tressel, Youngstown St.
1995 Don
Read, Montana
1996 Ray
Tellier, Columbia
1997 Andy
Talley, Villanova
1998 Mark
Whipple, Massachusetts
1999 Paul
Johnson, Georgia Southern
2000 Paul
Johnson, Georgia Southern
2001 Bobby
Johnson, Furman
2002 Jack
Harbaugh, Western Kentucky
2003 Dick
Biddle, Colgate
2004 Mickey
Matthews, James Madison
2005 Jerry
Moore, Appalachian St.
2006 Jerry
Moore, Appalachian St.
2007 Jerry
Moore, Appalachian St.
2008 Mike
London, Richmond
2009 Andy
Talley, Villanova
2010 K.C.
Keeler, Delaware
2011 Willie
Fritz, Sam Houston St.
Division II
1983 Don
Morton, North Dakota St.
1984 Chan
Gailey, Troy St.
1985 George
Landis, Bloomsburg
1986 Earle
Solomonson, North Dakota St.
1987 Rick
Rhoades, Troy St.
1988 Rocky
Hager, North Dakota St.
1989 John
Williams, Mississippi College
1990 Rocky
Hager, North Dakota St.
1991 Chuck
Broyles, Pittsburg St.
1992 Bill
Burgess, Jacksonville St.
1993 Bobby
Wallace, North Alabama
1994 Bobby
Wallace, North Alabama
1995 Bobby
Wallace, North Alabama
1996 Joe
Glenn, Northern Colorado
1997 Joe
Glenn, Northern Colorado
1998 Mel
Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
1999 Mel
Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
2000 Danny
Hale, Bloomsburg
2001 Dale
Lennon, North Dakota
2002 Brian
Kelly, Grand Valley St.
2003 Brian
Kelly, Grand Valley St.
Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) (tie)
2004 Chris
Hatcher, Valdosta St.
2005 Chuck
Martin, Grand Valley St.
2006 Chuck
Martin, Grand Valley St.
2007 David
Dean, Valdosta St.
2008 Mel
Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
2009 Mel
Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
2010 Bob
Nielson, Minnesota-Duluth
2011 Paul
Winters, Wayne St. (Mich.)
Division III
1983 Bob
Reade, Augustana (Ill.)
1984 Bob
Reade, Augustana (Ill.)
1985 Bob
Reade, Augustana (Ill.)
1986 Bob
Reade, Augustana (Ill.)
1987 Walt
Hameline, Wagner
1988 Jim
Butterfield, Ithaca
1989 Mike
Kelly, Dayton
1990 Ken
O'Keefe, Allegheny
1991 Jim
Butterfield, Ithaca
1992 John Luckhardt, Wash. & Jeff.
1993 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
1994 Pete
Schmidt, Albion
1995 Roger
Harring, Wis.-La Crosse
1996 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
1997 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
1998 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
1999 Frosty
Westering, Pacific Lutheran
2000 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
2001 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
2002 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
2003 John
Gagliardi, St. John's (Minn.)
2004 Jay
Locey, Linfield
2005 Bob
Berezowitz, Wis.-Whitewater
2006 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
2007 Lance
Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater
2008 Larry
Kehres, Mount Union
2009 Lance
Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater
2010 Lance
Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater
2011 Lance
Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater
NAIA
2006 Kalen
DeBoer, Sioux Falls
2007 Mike
Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.)
2008 Kalen
DeBoer, Sioux Falls
2009 Kalen
DeBoer, Sioux Falls
2010 Mike
Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.)
2011 Mike
Feminis, Saint Xavier
College Division
1960 Warren
Woodson, New Mexico St.
1961 Alonzo
S. Gaither, Florida A&M
1962 William
M. Edwards, Wittenberg
1963 William
M. Edwards, Wittenberg
1964 Clarence
Stasavich, East Carolina
1965 Jack
Curtice, UC-Santa Barbara
1966 Dan
Jessee, Trinity College
1967 A.C.
Moore, UT-Chattanooga
1968 Jim
Root, New Hampshire
1969 Larry
Naviaux, Boston University
1970 Bennie
Ellender, Arkansas St.
1971 Tubby
Raymond, Delaware
1972 Tubby
Raymond, Delaware
1973 Dave
Maurer, Wittenberg
1974 Roy
Kramer, Central Michigan
1975 Dave
Maurer, Wittenberg
1976 Jim
Dennison, Akron
1977 Bill
Manlove, Widener
1978 Lee
Tressel, Baldwin-Wallace
1979 Bill
Narduzzi, Youngstown St.
1980 Rick
Carter, Dayton
1981 Vito
Ragazzo, Shippensburg St.
1982 Jim
Wacker, Southwest Texas St.
