AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year

by: Steve Silverman
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

Tim Murphy
Harvard


Triumph – thy color is Crimson

Tim Murphy choreographed every step of the way for Harvard, and he led his team to a 10-0 record – the first time since 1906 the team had recorded a double-digit victory total.

Since replacing the well-respected Joe Restic in 1994, Murphy has led Harvard to four Ivy League titles in nine seasons, including two unbeaten and untied seasons.

Murphy loved the 2004 version of the Crimson – not just because of the unblemished record – but because of the way they went about their business. Harvard was trailing Columbia by three touchdowns in the Ivy League opener, but they came all the way back to win a 35-34 decision.

“I don’t care how good you are, it’s tough to come back from 21 down,” he said. “That was the ultimate gut-check time for our guys. No question, the main reason for our success has been the tremendous resiliency and overall ability to come back from adversity. All year long, we’ve had some tough games where we’ve had to hang on or overcome injuries or come back from being behind at the half.”

Murphy improved his career record at Harvard to 66-43 with the unbeaten season. In 18 years of coaching, Murphy is 98-88-1. He also coached five years at Cincinnati and two years at Maine.

Murphy’s teams are 33-6 in their last 39 games, the team’s best four-year run since 1912-15.

“He’s an unbelievable coach,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of Murphy. “I think the record we’ve had here as a senior class and his own record here says a lot about him. He’s a great motivator. He recruits great kids who bring a lot of character to the program.’’

Finalists:
Jimmye Laycock, William and Mary
Mickey Matthews, James Madison
Ron Randleman, Sam Houston State

Chuck Broyles
Pittsburg State


It was a brilliant year for Chuck Broyles and Pittsburg State – one that appeared to be destined to end with smiles, congratulatory back slaps and a championship trophy.

The Gorillas took a 14-0 record into their championship game with Valdosta (Ga.) State and they were brimming with confidence. But Valdosta matched them blow for blow and walked away with a 36-31 victory.

While the loss hurts, it can’t take away from the superb job that Broyles did this season. The team played with fire and creativity, but the Gorillas were extremely disciplined. In their opening game against Western (Colo.) State – a 56-6 victory – Pittsburg State set the tone for its season.

“A sign of things to come was the first game when our offense did not have an illegal procedure penalty, did not have an offside penalty, didn’t have a delay of game,’’ Broyles said. “Sometimes when you start out in the first game, you can’t get the right people on the field, let alone stay onside and have no false starts. The offense was focused, not only for that game but for the year.’’

Pittsburg State was the most explosive offensive team in the history of college football. They outscored their opponents 837-286 and outrushed them 5,320-1,620. An incredible display of offensive proficiency. The Gorillas have obliterated 17 team single-season records.

“The first thing I noticed at the beginning of the season was the team unity we have here at Pittsburg State, especially with this football team,’’ junior fullback Joe Taylor said. “We’ve come together more than any team I’ve seen.’’

Broyles and his team fell one game short, but the 2004 season will long be remembered.

Finalists:

Bob Stitt, Colorado Mines
Mike White, Albany State
Bill Zwann, West Chester

Larry Kehres
Mt. Union


An undefeated season is among the most memorable of accomplishments for any football team. When Ohio State won the national championship in 2002, it was the Buckeyes first perfect season since 1968.

A 34-year span for one of the most storied programs in all of college football.

Stay in Ohio, but move to Division III Mount Union. Larry Kehres has been coaching the Purple Raiders for 19 years - and his teams have had 13 undefeated regular seasons. He has also led them to seven Division III national championships.

As a result of his team’s outstanding play, Kehres has been named the AFCA’s national coach of the year eight times.

“Our coaching staff has remained intact and is committed to our system,” Kehres said. “Our players know what is expected of them. They know that we believe in taking advantage of opportunities and not beating ourselves with mistakes.”

This year’s team ripped through its first 12 games before losing 38-35 in the Division III semifinals to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Raiders led all the way until Hardin-Baylor’s Walter Sharp caught a Josh Welsh 24-yard, 4th-and-12 pass in a crowded end zone with 48 seconds left to give his team the lead. The loss was Mount Union’s first at home in five years, but Kehres understands how to carry himself after a loss – even though he does it so infrequently.

“I tend to say, we just lost a football game; all around, there are a lot worse things happening,” Kehres said of what he told his players following the loss. “We don’t dwell on winning for a long time, either.”
It’s that kind of attitude that allows Kehres to stand above the rest.

Finalists:
Pete Fredenburg, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Matt Kelcher, Christopher Newport
Jay Locey, Linfield

Patrick Ross
Lindenwood University


Talk about the fast track for success. Patrick Ross has turned around the Lindenwood program in just his first year.

The Lions hired Ross after enduring two painful seasons – 1-10 in 2002 and 3-7 in 2003. They blew up in 2004 as they reeled off 11 straight victories before losing 20-19 to Hastings (Neb.) on a last-second field goal in the NAIA playoffs.

Ross may be considered a prodigy among coaches. He’s a 29-year-old who had led Ottawa (Kansas) to an NAIA playoff berth last year before he was hired at Lindenwood.

Ross believes that the way to turn around a program is to run it the way a head coach at a high-profile Division I school would.

“You know, we are D-I,” Ross said. “Everything we are doing is D-I football. We’re recruiting D-I athletes, we have D-I facilities, and the campus at Lindenwood is absolutely beautiful.”

That attitude translated well to his players, who were a dominant team from the start of the season. The Lions won their first three games by 79 points, but then had three close games in which their margin of victory was just six points per game. That span toughened Ross’s charges, who rolled to a 45-0 win over Avila University in their homecoming game.

“We were very happy with the effort our guys showed,” Ross said about that win. “We preach playing hard every snap, and this was a great game for us from that standpoint. It’s always fun as a coach when lots of people get to play, so it was a good day all around for us.”

The Lions fell short in the NAIA, but it is clear that Ross has turned the program in a new direction.

Finalists:
Carl Poelker, McKendree
Peter Shinnick, Azusa Pacific
Bob Young, Sioux Falls

Tim Hatten
Pearl River Community College


The Wildcats have some significant momentum.

Pearl River completed an undefeated season with a win over Butler County Community College, 35-14 in the National Junior College Athletic Association championship game. The Wildcats have won 19 games in a row and are building what may become a dynasty in Southern Mississippi.

Pearl River hasn’t lost a game since the fourth week of the 2002 season.

Hatten and his staff have done it with three things: speed, speed and more speed. That allows the team to get better every day in practice – because that’s the best team Pearl River sees. “No doubt,” defensive coordinator William Jones said. “I think that’s what makes us competitive week in and week out. It’s been that way for three years. The best team we play generally is during the week, day-in and day-out.”

As a result of their success, Pearl River is the opponent to beat for everyone on their schedule. “Playing with that bull’s eye on your chest all year is tough,” Hatten said. “But the players and coaches responded real well to it. We’ve got a lot of playmakers on offense, defense and special teams and they made plays when they had to.”

The win over Butler was Pearl River’s first national championship since 1961. Hatten was elated with the performance. “Offensively, I thought we would score some points, but defensively, I thought they would score more points than they did,” he said. “We’re just happy to bring a national championship trophy back to south Mississippi.”

It will be difficult for any school to wrestle the title away from Pearl River in the future.

Finalists:
Greg Croshaw, Dixie State
Chuck Lyon, College of the Canyons
Jim Rieves, Kilgore College








NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved