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

© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          


DIVISION I-AA WINNER
Dave Clawson
Fordham


Dave Clawson did not rest on his laurels after guiding his squad to a 7-4 record and being named Co-Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2001. No, Clawson joins former Holy Cross mentor Mark Duffner (1986-87) as the only coach in Patriot League history to win the League’s Coach of the Year honor in consecutive years.

“It was just one of those years,” said Clawson. “This year was truly a remarkable team effort. Every time we broke a huddle, we broke on ‘Team.’ Awards are a product of success and hard work.”

Clawson built the Rams from the ground up after starting 0-11 during his first season. Under Clawson, Fordham made the Division I-AA playoffs for the first time since joining I-AA in 1989. The Rams (10-3), who finished ranked No. 15 nationally, also won the Patriot League conference crown and defeated another I-AA upstart, Atlantic 10 champion, Northeastern, in first round action. The 10-win season is the most of any Fordham football team at the I-AA level and a certain sign of things to come.

“Even after the 0-11 season, winning the Patriot League title always remained our goal,” said Clawson. “No matter how hard you work or no matter how much you learn, you can always do more. I think that some of the better I-AA conferences are in our area of the country (Northeast) and it makes all of us better.”

Runners-up:
Don Brown, Northeastern (Mass.)
Mike Sewak, Georgia Southern
Tommy Tate, McNeese State (La.)


DIVISION II WINNER
Chris Hatcher
Valdosta State

Valdosta State’s Chris Hatcher just keeps winning football games. Even without quarterback Dusty Bonner, who won back-to-back Harlon Hill Trophies (Division II’s version of the Heisman), the Blazers finished the regular season with a perfect 11-0 mark and ranked No. 2 nationally in Division II.

Hatcher has won 36 of his 40 games at Valdosta State during his three years at the helm even though he has lost five assistant coaches to the Division I ranks.

Valdosta State (14-1) lost the 2002 national championship game 31-24 to No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State (Mich.) in one of ESPN’s most watched football games of the season.

“What we were able to accomplish this season still amazes me,” Hatcher said. “We lost so many good players from last year’s team and we are continually faced with losing our top coaches to Division I.

“Obviously, it gets a little harder to hang on to your staff when you are successful, but it just goes to show you what a little hard work and dedication can do. I want to do everything that I can to keep this program moving in the right direction.”

Before this season, Valdosta had never reached the semifinals of the national playoffs in the school’s 21-year football history. Hatcher has won three straight Gulf South Conference championships and has taken his teams to the playoffs each year.

Runners-up:
John Zamberlin, Central Washington
Bob Nielson, Minnesota-Duluth
Bryan Collins, C.W. Post (NY)


DIVISION III WINNER
John Gagliardi
St. Johns

At 76 years old, John Gagliardi is still going strong. The legendary coaching icon wrapped up his 50th season just one win away from playing for the Division III national title.

Gagliardi, who has lost just 114 college football games, won No. 400 a week before the Johnnies (12-2) were defeated 41-34 at the hands of Trinity (Texas). In fact, Gagliardi needs just eight more wins to tie Eddie Robinson, the only other collegiate coach with 400 or more victories.

“This is a great honor,” said Gagliardi. “I didn’t know if anyone knew I existed. I have had a great career. When people ask me the secret to winning 400 games, I always say the same thing - any coach can do what I’ve done by simply winning 10 games a year for 40 years, it’s that simple.”

Gagliardi attributes his success and longevity to his team’s only rule.

“The only rule that we go by at St. John’s is the ‘Golden Rule,’” he said. “Treat everybody like you like to be treated and that goes for the coaches. I know that I certainly don’t want to be mistreated, so I am certainly not going to mistreat someone else.”

The 50-year veteran shows no signs of letting up.

“You know, I feel good and I feel strong,” he said. “The players still respond to what I am trying to teach them and we are still winning football games. So, I’ll go out there and get busy recruiting. That’s all I know to do.”

Runners-up:

Pete Fredenburg, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tx.)
Regis Scafe, John Carroll
Jay Accorsi, Rowan (NJ)


NAIA WINNER
Paul Troth
Missouri Valley College


Paul Troth is in his first year at Missouri Valley College, a program that went 5-5 last season. Troth started this season 4-0 before finishing 8-2 with their only losses coming from Benedictine and Mid-America Nazarene, both playoff qualifiers.

“I really appreciate this honor,” said Paul Troth. “Anyone who coaches knows that it’s too big a job for one man to do, so the entire staff earned this award.”

Turning programs around is nothing new to Troth, who turned Huron University into a perennial playoff contender. Troth guided Huron to the NAIA Championship Series three straight seasons before taking over at Missouri Valley.

“At our level, the head coach actually has to coach,” he said. “Because we have so few assistants, our coaches have to be able to handle a little bit of everything.

“The NAIA is a group of small schools that see the value of intercollegiate athletics,” Troth added. “We are all in similar situations. There is certainly not as much money or fan support, but it is great competition played by athletes that simply want to play. It is a great brand of football.”

Troth, who has 18 years of coaching experience with 12 of those at the collegiate level, was hired as the eighth coach in MVC history to replace the retiring Dan Stanley. Troth has brought an impressive list of credentials to MVC and has turned the Vikings into contenders in just one season.

Runners-up:
Scott Frear, St. Mary’s College (Kan.)
Kevin Donley, St. Francis (Ind.)
Bill Cronnin, Georgetown (Ky.)]


JUNIOR COLLEGE
Bert Williams
Georgia Military College


In just his third year at the helm, Bert Williams, who is both athletic director and head football coach, guided his Georgia Military College football squad to a 10-0 overall regular season record and a No. 1 ranking in 2002 after capturing the NJCAA national championship in 2001. The Bulldogs lost to Joliet (Ill.) Junior College, 24-14, in the Sea Island Company Golden Isles Bowl Classic.

“Obviously this is a nice honor,” said Williams, who is 28-4 overall after three years. “It is exciting to know that people recognize your achievements, but this more of a staff award. I mean, I may get the award, but they do all the hard work. This reflects the job that they have done as well.

“You rebuild every year at the junior college level,” he added. “Many fans do not fully understand junior college football. These are some of the best athletes in the country and they will move on to the power conferences and compete for a national title every year. They may not have the grades to go to start their career in Division I, but they certainly have the talent.”

Williams had previously served as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at GMC.

Every head coach is responsible for the development of their young men,” said Williams. “It is important for all coaches to set an example and to set high demands of their team.”

Runners-up:
Bob Larson, Garden City
Community College (Kan.);
Tony Caviglia, Fresno City College (Calif.)






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