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WACO, TEX. — The AFCA is honored to announce the Coach of the Year in each of the five divisions of college football.
The winners are selected by a vote of the active AFCA members at each of the four-year schools in the association. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year as early as 1935. It is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.
In his first season at Indiana, Cignetti won his first AFCA national honor by leading the Hoosiers to its best season in program history. Indiana is 11-1 on the season and earned the program’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff. The 11 overall wins and eight Big Ten victories this season are program best. Cignetti has an overall record of 130-36 in 14 seasons as a head coach at Indiana, James Madison, Elon and Indiana (Pa.).
Cosh takes home FCS Coach of the Year honors in his first season as a head coach. All he did was take a Stony Brook team, who went 0-10 in 2023, to an 8-4 season in 2024, which was the biggest turnaround in FCS this season. The Seawolves earned their most victories in a season since 2018, earned their first national ranking since 2018 and their highest ranking since 2017. They currently rank 36th in the 2024 FCS Congrove Computer Rankings out of 129 teams. In the 2023 final FCS rankings, Seton Hall finished 127th out of 128 teams.
In just three short years, Jackson has brought Valdosta State back to the Division II national championship game. He has the Blazers sitting at 13-0 and will face Ferris State for the national title. Jackson has a 30-8 record at Valdosta State with two Gulf South Conference titles, and an overall record of 40-11 when you include his two seasons as head coach at Colorado Mesa.
Wood earned his first AFCA National Coach of the Year honor in his 32nd season as head coach. In 2024, Wood guided Salisbury to a 12-1 record, the New Jersey Athletic Conference title and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs. The Sea Gulls recorded their fifth undefeated regular season and sixth quarterfinal appearance. The all-time wins leader at Salisbury, Wood has a record of 193-80 with the Sea Gulls and an overall record of 214-119-1 when you include his six seasons at Bowie State.
In his first season as a head coach, Russ has guided Keiser to a 12-0 record, the Sun Conference title and the program’s third straight trip to the NAIA National Championship game where they will face Grand View. He has been with the program since it was started in 2018, serving as assistant head coach, running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Russ has been a part of six straight conference championships and the 2023 national title.
In 2024, Stony Brook’s Billy Cosh and Keiser’s Myles Russ join Colorado Mines’ Brandon Moore, Richmond’s Mike London and Valdosta State’s David Dean as 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, and Moore was the Division II winner in 2022.
FBS (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
2012 Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
2013 David Cutcliffe, Duke
2014 Gary Patterson, TCU
2015 Dabo Swinney, Clemson
2016 Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
2017 Scott Frost, Central Florida
2018 Mike Leach, Washington State
2019 Ed Orgeron, LSU
2020 Tom Allen, Indiana
2021 Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
2022 Sonny Dykes, TCU
2023 Kalen DeBoer, Washington
Football Championship Subdivision
(Simply known as the College Division from 1960-1982, then 1AA in 1983, and FCS in 2006)
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.
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.
2012 Craig Bohl, North Dakota St.
2013 Craig Bohl, North Dakota St.
2014 Sean McDonnell, New Hampshire
2015 John Grass, Jacksonville St.
2016 Mike Houston, James Madison
2017 Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw St.
2018 Joe Harasymiak, Maine
2019 Matt Entz, North Dakota St.
2020 Scott Wachenheim, VMI
2021 Matt Entz, North Dakota St.
2022 John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota St.
2023 Greg Gattuso, Albany
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.)
2012 David Dean, Valdosta St.
2013 Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St.
2014 John Wristen, Colorado St.-Pueblo
2015 Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St.
2016 Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St.
2017 Pete Shinnick, West Florida
2018 Drew Cronic, Lenoir-Rhyne
2019 Todd Hoffner, Minnesota St.
2021 Damon Wilson, Bowie St.
2022 Brandon Moore, Colorado Mines
2023 Paul Simmons, Harding
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
2012 Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas
2013 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater
2014 Lance Leipold, Wis.-Whitewater
2015 Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas
2016 Pete Fredenburg, Mary Hardin-Baylor
2017 Jason Mangone, Brockport
2018 Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins
2019 Nate Milne, Muhlenberg
2021 Jeff McMartin, Central (Iowa)
2022 Steve Johnson, Bethel (Minn.)
2023 Curt Fitzpatrick, Cortland
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
2012 Steve Ryan, Morningside
2013 Mike Woodley, Grand View
2014 Mark Henninger, Marian
2015 Mark Henninger, Marian
2016 Kevin Donley, St. Francis (Ind.)
2017 Kevin Donley, St. Francis (Ind.)
2018 Steve Ryan, Morningside
2019 Steve Ryan, Morningside
2020 Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson
2021 Steve Ryan, Morningside
2022 Matt McCarty, Northwestern (Iowa)
2023 Doug Socha, Keiser
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, bringing the total to the five honorees we have today. Prior to 2006, the NAIA was a part of the AFCA’s Division II membership category.
Voting Process
The current balloting procedure involves selection of 25 regional winners: five regional winners in each of the five divisions – FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, who become finalist for national coach of the year. Following regional voting, five national winners – one from each division – are chosen.
Learn more at AFCA.com.