Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver Named 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year
May 10, 2021
Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver has been named the 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year. Oliver was selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at NAIA schools. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be selected for this award from the AFCA,” Lindsey Wilson head coach Chris Oliver said. “Head coaches get a lot of credit when things are going well, but awards like this happen due to the hard work and sacrifice of players and assistant coaches. Our guys have sacrificed and invested more than ever to meet the unique challenges of this season. This is a team award, and I’m very blessed to lead this team.”
The current balloting procedure involves selection of five regional winners who become finalist for national coach of the year. The other finalist were Joshua Schumacher, Concordia (Mich.); Joe Woodley, Grand View; Steve Ryan, Morningside and Jeff Bowen, Arizona Christian.
Oliver earned his first AFCA National honor by guiding Lindsey Wilson to a 10-0 record, the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division title and the program’s first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship game. The Blue Raiders will face Northwestern College tonight at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana, for the title.
Oliver, who earned his sixth AFCA Regional honor in April, started the Lindsey Wilson program in 2010 and owns an overall record of 92-33 with six NAIA playoff appearances in his 11 years as head coach. He guided the Blue Raiders to the most wins in a season in 2019 when Lindsey Wilson went 12-1 and made the program’s first appearance in the NAIA semifinals. Lindsey Wilson has won four Mid-South Conference Division titles under Oliver to go along with his four Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year four honors.
Oliver began his coaching career in 2001 as a student assistant at Ohio State. In 2003, he was hired as a lead assistant and recruiting coordinator to help start the football program at Ohio Dominican. Oliver was the offensive coordinator from 2006-08, producing some of the most prolific offenses in the NAIA. In 2006, Ohio Dominican was No. 3 in the country in total offense and passing, moving to No. 1 in the country in those same categories in 2007. On January 7, 2009, Oliver was hired at Lindsey Wilson to restart the football program after a 75-year hiatus.
RELATED CONTENT: Steve Ryan Headlines 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
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.
Most Awards: Morningside’s Steve Ryan (2012, 2018, 2019), Carroll’s Mike Van Diest (2003, 2007, 2010) and Sioux Falls’ Kalen DeBoer (2006, 2008-09) are the only three-time NAIA Coach of the Year winners. Van Diest won his 2003 honor when NAIA members were a part of the AFCA’s Division II membership.
AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year Winners – All-Time List
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
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out insider.afca.com and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver has been named the 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year. Oliver was selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at NAIA schools. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be selected for this award from the AFCA,” Lindsey Wilson head coach Chris Oliver said. “Head coaches get a lot of credit when things are going well, but awards like this happen due to the hard work and sacrifice of players and assistant coaches. Our guys have sacrificed and invested more than ever to meet the unique challenges of this season. This is a team award, and I’m very blessed to lead this team.”
The current balloting procedure involves selection of five regional winners who become finalist for national coach of the year. The other finalist were Joshua Schumacher, Concordia (Mich.); Joe Woodley, Grand View; Steve Ryan, Morningside and Jeff Bowen, Arizona Christian.
Oliver earned his first AFCA National honor by guiding Lindsey Wilson to a 10-0 record, the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division title and the program’s first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship game. The Blue Raiders will face Northwestern College tonight at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana, for the title.
Oliver, who earned his sixth AFCA Regional honor in April, started the Lindsey Wilson program in 2010 and owns an overall record of 92-33 with six NAIA playoff appearances in his 11 years as head coach. He guided the Blue Raiders to the most wins in a season in 2019 when Lindsey Wilson went 12-1 and made the program’s first appearance in the NAIA semifinals. Lindsey Wilson has won four Mid-South Conference Division titles under Oliver to go along with his four Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year four honors.
Oliver began his coaching career in 2001 as a student assistant at Ohio State. In 2003, he was hired as a lead assistant and recruiting coordinator to help start the football program at Ohio Dominican. Oliver was the offensive coordinator from 2006-08, producing some of the most prolific offenses in the NAIA. In 2006, Ohio Dominican was No. 3 in the country in total offense and passing, moving to No. 1 in the country in those same categories in 2007. On January 7, 2009, Oliver was hired at Lindsey Wilson to restart the football program after a 75-year hiatus.
RELATED CONTENT: Steve Ryan Headlines 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
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.
Most Awards: Morningside’s Steve Ryan (2012, 2018, 2019), Carroll’s Mike Van Diest (2003, 2007, 2010) and Sioux Falls’ Kalen DeBoer (2006, 2008-09) are the only three-time NAIA Coach of the Year winners. Van Diest won his 2003 honor when NAIA members were a part of the AFCA’s Division II membership.
AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year Winners – All-Time List
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
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out insider.afca.com and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
