John Grass Named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
12/8/2014 9:00:00 AM | Football
Jacksonville State head football coach John Grass was named the American Football Coaches Association 2014 FCS Regional Coach of the Year, the association announced today.
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's five divisions, and are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.
In his first year as a collegiate head coach, Grass led the Gamecocks to their fourth OVC Championship and fifth Division I playoff appearance. He is one of just five coaches in OVC history to lead his team to the Conference title in his first year.
After a loss to FBS Michigan State in the first game of the year, the Gamecocks won 10-straight games and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA playoffs after earning the No. 3 overall national seed.
The Gamecocks (10-2) were ranked in the Top 8 all season and finished the regular-season ranked No. 2 by FCS Coaches Poll. The 10 overall wins set the JSU record for most regular season wins by a coach in program history, and JSU finished a perfect 8-0 in OVC play for the first time in school history.
The 2014 Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2015 AFCA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
2014 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Sean McDonnell, University of New Hampshire
Region 2: Joe Moglia, Coastal Carolina University
Region 3: John Grass, Jacksonville State University
Region 4: Mike Sanford, Indiana State University
Region 5: Beau Baldwin, Eastern Washington University
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: David Cutcliffe, Duke University
Region 2: Dan Mullen, Mississippi State University
Region 3: Jerry Kill, University of Minnesota*
Region 4: Gary Patterson, TCU
Region 5: Jim McElwain, Colorado State University
Division II
Region 1: Paul Darragh, Bloomsburg University
Region 2: Todd Knight, Ouachita Baptist University
Region 3: Tony Annese, Ferris State University
Region 4: Will Wagner, Angelo State University
Region 5: Todd Hoffner, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Division III
Region 1: Chad Martinovich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Region 2: Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins University
Region 3: Pete Fredenburg, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor*
Region 4: Mike Swider, Wheaton College
Region 5: Tony Jennison, Macalester College
NAIA
Region 1: Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College*
Region 2: Jim Lyall, Siena Heights University
Region 3: Brian Willmer, MidAmerica Nazarene University
Region 4: Steve Ryan, Morningside College
Region 5: Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) College*
*-2013 winner
Award History: The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year award. Prior to 1960, the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain had sponsored the program, which recognized one national Coach of the Year.
The AFCA first recognized eight district winners in each of two divisions:?university and college. In 1972, a ninth district was added in each division. In 1983, the award was changed to recognize regional winners instead of district winners, and the number of divisions was increased from two to four, and five regional winners were selected in each division. This resulted in a more equitable selection process and better represented the make-up of the membership. At the same time, the new system increased the number of honorees from 18 to 20. In 2006, the AFCA?Division II?Award was split into separate Division II?and NAIA divisions, giving us the 25 winners we now recognize.
AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce its five 2014 National Coach of the Year winners at the 2015 AFCA?Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. All head coaches who were eligible for regional honors are eligible for national honors as well.
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's five divisions, and are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.
In his first year as a collegiate head coach, Grass led the Gamecocks to their fourth OVC Championship and fifth Division I playoff appearance. He is one of just five coaches in OVC history to lead his team to the Conference title in his first year.
After a loss to FBS Michigan State in the first game of the year, the Gamecocks won 10-straight games and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA playoffs after earning the No. 3 overall national seed.
The Gamecocks (10-2) were ranked in the Top 8 all season and finished the regular-season ranked No. 2 by FCS Coaches Poll. The 10 overall wins set the JSU record for most regular season wins by a coach in program history, and JSU finished a perfect 8-0 in OVC play for the first time in school history.
The 2014 Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2015 AFCA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
2014 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Sean McDonnell, University of New Hampshire
Region 2: Joe Moglia, Coastal Carolina University
Region 3: John Grass, Jacksonville State University
Region 4: Mike Sanford, Indiana State University
Region 5: Beau Baldwin, Eastern Washington University
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: David Cutcliffe, Duke University
Region 2: Dan Mullen, Mississippi State University
Region 3: Jerry Kill, University of Minnesota*
Region 4: Gary Patterson, TCU
Region 5: Jim McElwain, Colorado State University
Division II
Region 1: Paul Darragh, Bloomsburg University
Region 2: Todd Knight, Ouachita Baptist University
Region 3: Tony Annese, Ferris State University
Region 4: Will Wagner, Angelo State University
Region 5: Todd Hoffner, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Division III
Region 1: Chad Martinovich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Region 2: Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins University
Region 3: Pete Fredenburg, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor*
Region 4: Mike Swider, Wheaton College
Region 5: Tony Jennison, Macalester College
NAIA
Region 1: Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College*
Region 2: Jim Lyall, Siena Heights University
Region 3: Brian Willmer, MidAmerica Nazarene University
Region 4: Steve Ryan, Morningside College
Region 5: Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) College*
*-2013 winner
Award History: The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year award. Prior to 1960, the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain had sponsored the program, which recognized one national Coach of the Year.
The AFCA first recognized eight district winners in each of two divisions:?university and college. In 1972, a ninth district was added in each division. In 1983, the award was changed to recognize regional winners instead of district winners, and the number of divisions was increased from two to four, and five regional winners were selected in each division. This resulted in a more equitable selection process and better represented the make-up of the membership. At the same time, the new system increased the number of honorees from 18 to 20. In 2006, the AFCA?Division II?Award was split into separate Division II?and NAIA divisions, giving us the 25 winners we now recognize.
AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce its five 2014 National Coach of the Year winners at the 2015 AFCA?Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. All head coaches who were eligible for regional honors are eligible for national honors as well.
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