Matt Entz and Steve Ryan Headline the 2021 AFCA FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
December 6, 2021
North Dakota State’s Matt Entz and Morningside’s Steve Ryan highlight today’s announcement of the American Football Coaches Association’s 2021 Regional Coach of the Year winners for Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III and NAIA. These winners will be honored on Monday, January 10, during the 2022 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
RELATED ARTICLE: Luke Fickell Headlines 2021 Werner Ladder AFCA FBS Regional Coach of the Year Winners
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association’s five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA. The winners are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.
2021 AFCA FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Mark Ferrante, Villanova University
Region 2: Kevin Callahan, Monmouth University (N.J.)
Region 3: Walt Wells, Eastern Kentucky University and Eric Dooley, Prairie View A&M University (tie)
Region 4: *Matt Entz, North Dakota State University
Region 5: K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston State University
Division II
Region 1: Jim Clements, Kutztown University
Region 2: Damon Wilson, Bowie State University
Region 3: Rob Keys, University of Findlay
Region 4: Jeff Girsch, Angelo State University
Region 5: Jas Bains, Western Colorado University
Division III
Region 1: Mike Toop, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Region 2: Rich Lackner, Carnegie Mellon University
Region 3: Jerheme Urban, Trinity University (Tex.)
Region 4: Dustin Beurer, Albion College
Region 5: Jeff McMartin, Central College
NAIA
Region 1: *Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College
Region 2: *Joshua Schumacher, Concordia University (Mich.)
Region 3: Brad Griffin, Southwestern College (Kan.)
Region 4: *Steve Ryan, Morningside University
Region 5: Joe Prud’homme, Texas Wesleyan University
*-2021 Spring winner
Entz earned his third straight AFCA Regional honor by guiding North Dakota State to a 11-1 record, the Missouri Valley Football Conference title, and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs. He is 34-4 in his three years as a head coach and guided the Bison to the 2019 NCAA FCS National title. He was named 2019 AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year after becoming the first Division I head coach to go 16-0 in his first full year at the helm.
Ryan picked up his eighth straight AFCA Regional honor, and 11th overall, to move him into a tie for second place all-time with Penn State’s Joe Paterno. Only Larry Kehres from Mount Union has more AFCA Regional honors at 17. Ryan has led Morningside to a 13-0 record, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title and an appearance in the NAIA National Championship game. This is the Mustangs third appearance in the last four years in the national title game. He has an overall record of 207-39 in his 20 years as a head coach with 12 GPAC championships. Ryan earned AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year honors in 2018 and 2019 after leading Morningside to back-to-back undefeated seasons and NAIA national titles.
AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce the 2021 National Coaches of the Year winners in FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA on Monday, January 10. The Regional winners in each division are finalists for National Coach of the Year.
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. The number of divisions was also 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.
Repeat Winners: North Dakota State’s Matt Entz, Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver, Concordia’s (Mich.) Joshua Schumacher and Morningside’s Steve Ryan are the repeat winners from Spring 2021. Entz won his third in a row (2019, Spring 2021, 2021) while Oliver has seven to his name (2011, 2013-14, 2016-17, Spring 2021, 2021). Schumacher has two in row from Spring 2021 to Fall 2021. Ryan’s honors came in 2005, 2011-12 and eight in a row from 2014-21.
Multiple Winners: Other multiple winners in the 2021 class are Kevin Callahan (second: 2019), Jim Clements (third: 2010, 2019) and Jeff McMartin (second: 2007).
First Time Winners: Fourteen coaches earned their first AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Award in 2021: Villanova’s Mark Ferrante, Eastern Kentucky’s Walt Wells, Prairie View A&M’s Eric Dooley, Sam Houston’s K.C. Keeler, Bowie State’s Damon Wilson, Findlay’s Rob Keys, Angelo State’s Jeff Girsch, Western Colorado’s Jas Bains, U.S. Merchant Marine’s Mike Toop, Carnegie Mellon’s Rich Lackner, Trinity’s (Tex.) Jerheme Urban, Albion’s Dustin Beurer, Southwestern’s (Kan.) Brad Griffin and Texas Wesleyan’s Joe Prud’homme.
Most Awards: Mount Union’s Larry Kehres (1986, 1990, 1992-93, 1996-97, 1999-02, 2006-12) has the most district/regional honors in AFCA history, with 17. Ryan joins Penn State’s Joe Paterno (District 2: 1967-68, 1971-73, 1977-78, 1982; Region 1: 1985; Region 3: 1994, 2005) in second with 11 District/Regional Coach of the Year honors. Tied for third is Bloomsburg’s Danny Hale and Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Pete Fredenburg, each with 10 awards. Hale won his first three honors at West Chester and the rest at Bloomsburg (College Division I, Region 1 1986-88, 1994-95; Division II, Region 1, 2000-01, 2005-06, 2008). Fredenburg won his 10 in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012-14, 2016 and 2018. Eight coaches have won the award seven times: Tubby Raymond, Delaware; Jim Butterfield, Ithaca; Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson; Bo Schembechler, Miami (Ohio), Michigan; Bob Devaney, Nebraska; Tom Osborne, Nebraska; Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Missouri State; and Carmen Cozza, Yale. Seven coaches have won Regional honors six times: Vince Dooley, Georgia; Brian Kelly, Grand Valley State, Cincinnati, Notre Dame; Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky; John McKay, USC; Jerry Moore, Appalachian State; Darrell Royal, Texas; and Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.).
Most Winners by School: Mount Union-18 (Ken Wable-1, Larry Kehres-17); Nebraska-15 (Bob Devaney-7, Tom Osborne-7, Frank Solich-1); North Dakota State-16 (Darrell Mudra-1, Ron Erhardt-4, Jim Wacker-1, Don Morton-3, Earle Solomonson-1, Craig Bohl-2, Klieman-1, Entz-3); Penn State-12 (Rip Engle-1, Joe Paterno-11); Alabama-11 (Bear Bryant-4, Bill Curry-1, Gene Stallings-2, Mike Shula-1, Nick Saban-3); Morningside-11 (Steve Ryan-1); Texas-11 (Darrell Royal-6, Fred Akers-2, David McWilliams-1, Mack Brown-2); Mary Hardin-Baylor-10 (Pete Fredenburg-10); USC-10 (John McKay-6, John Robinson-2, Pete Carroll-2); Wittenberg-10 (Bill Edwards-3, Dave Maurer-4, Ron Murphy-1, Joe Fincham-2); Arkansas-9 (Frank Broyles-4, Lou Holtz-1, Ken Hatfield-1, Houston Nutt-2, Sam Pittman-1); Bloomsburg-9 (George Landis-1, Danny Hale-7, Paul Darragh-1); Eastern Kentucky-9 (Roy Kidd-6, Danny Hope-1, Dean Hood-1, Walt Wells-1); Ithaca-9 (Jim Butterfield-7, Mike Welch-2); Michigan-9 (Bump Elliott-2, Bo Schembechler-6, Lloyd Carr-1); New Hampshire-9 (Clarence Boston-1, Jim Root-1, Bill Bowes-3, Sean McDonnell-4); Dartmouth-8 (Bob Blackman-4, Jake Crouthamel-1, Joe Yukica-1, Buddy Teveens-2); Georgia-8 (Vince Dooley-6, Mark Richt-1, Kirby Smart-1); Lenoir-Rhyne-8 (Clarence Stasavich-2, Hanley Painter-2, John Perry-1, Charles Forbes-1, Drew Cronic-2); Northwest Missouri State-8 (Mel Tjeerdsma-7, Adam Dorrel-1); Ohio State-8 (Woody Hayes-4, Earle Bruce-1, John Cooper-3); Oklahoma-8 (Chuck Fairbanks-3, Barry Switzer-2, Bob Stoops-3); Texas A&M-Kingsville-8 (Gil Steinke-2, Ron Harms-5, Bo Atterberry-1); Yale-8 (Jordan Olivar-1, Carmen Cozza-7).
Two Consecutive Years, Two Schools: Mike Houston (The Citadel, 2015 & James Madison, 2016) joined seven other coaches who have earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors at two schools in consecutive years: Fred Akers (Wyoming, 1976 & Texas 1977), Dennis Franchione (Pittsburg State, 1989 & Texas State, 1990), Jim McElwain (Colorado State, 2014 & Florida, 2015), Hal Mumme (Valdosta State, 1996 & Kentucky, 1997), Dick Sheridan (Furman, 1985 & North Carolina State, 1986), Kevin Sumlin (Houston, 2011 & Texas A&M, 2012) and Joe Tiller (Wyoming, 1996 & Purdue, 1997).
Most Schools: South Carolina’s Lou Holtz is the only coach to earn AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors at four different schools. Holtz earned the honor at North Carolina State (1972), Arkansas (1979), Notre Dame (1988) and South Carolina (2000). Brian Kelly (Grand Valley State, Cincinnati, Notre Dame) became the seventh coach to win district or regional honors at three different schools in 2012. He joins Jerry Claiborne (Virginia Tech, Maryland, Kentucky), Darrell Mudra (North Dakota State, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa), Houston Nutt (Mississippi, Arkansas, Murray State), Mike Price (UTEP, Washington State, Weber State), Jim Sweeney (Montana State, Washington State, Fresno State) and Jim Wacker (North Dakota State, Texas State, TCU) on that list.
Consecutive Years: Morningside’s Steve Ryan jumps to first place with his eight straight NAIA Regional honors from 2014-21. Mount Union’s Larry Kehres is in second with seven consecutive years, winning in Division III from 2006-12. Jacksonville State’s John Grass, Northwest Missouri State’s Mel Tjeerdsma and Nebraska’s Bob Devaney are the only coaches to win district/regional honors in five consecutive years. Tjeerdsma earned the honor in Division II from 1996-2000. Devaney earned the honor in the AFCA’s old University Division (1962-66). Grass earned his five straight in FCS from 2014-18. Carroll’s Mike Van Diest, Trinity’s (Texas) Steve Mohr, North Dakota State’s Ron Erhardt and Kehres are the only men to win the award four years in a row. Van Diest earned the honor in NAIA from 2007-10, while Kehres won his four in a row from 1999-2002 in Division III. Erhardt earned district honors in the AFCA’s old College Division (1967-68-69-70) while Mohr earned the honor in Division III (1996-97-98-99). Sixteen coaches have earned district or regional honors three years in a row. Ithaca’s Jim Butterfield (1978-79-80 and 1984-85-86) earned the award in three consecutive years on two different occasions.
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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North Dakota State’s Matt Entz and Morningside’s Steve Ryan highlight today’s announcement of the American Football Coaches Association’s 2021 Regional Coach of the Year winners for Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III and NAIA. These winners will be honored on Monday, January 10, during the 2022 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
RELATED ARTICLE: Luke Fickell Headlines 2021 Werner Ladder AFCA FBS Regional Coach of the Year Winners
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association’s five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA. The winners are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.
2021 AFCA FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Mark Ferrante, Villanova University
Region 2: Kevin Callahan, Monmouth University (N.J.)
Region 3: Walt Wells, Eastern Kentucky University and Eric Dooley, Prairie View A&M University (tie)
Region 4: *Matt Entz, North Dakota State University
Region 5: K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston State University
Division II
Region 1: Jim Clements, Kutztown University
Region 2: Damon Wilson, Bowie State University
Region 3: Rob Keys, University of Findlay
Region 4: Jeff Girsch, Angelo State University
Region 5: Jas Bains, Western Colorado University
Division III
Region 1: Mike Toop, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Region 2: Rich Lackner, Carnegie Mellon University
Region 3: Jerheme Urban, Trinity University (Tex.)
Region 4: Dustin Beurer, Albion College
Region 5: Jeff McMartin, Central College
NAIA
Region 1: *Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College
Region 2: *Joshua Schumacher, Concordia University (Mich.)
Region 3: Brad Griffin, Southwestern College (Kan.)
Region 4: *Steve Ryan, Morningside University
Region 5: Joe Prud’homme, Texas Wesleyan University
*-2021 Spring winner
Entz earned his third straight AFCA Regional honor by guiding North Dakota State to a 11-1 record, the Missouri Valley Football Conference title, and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs. He is 34-4 in his three years as a head coach and guided the Bison to the 2019 NCAA FCS National title. He was named 2019 AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year after becoming the first Division I head coach to go 16-0 in his first full year at the helm.
Ryan picked up his eighth straight AFCA Regional honor, and 11th overall, to move him into a tie for second place all-time with Penn State’s Joe Paterno. Only Larry Kehres from Mount Union has more AFCA Regional honors at 17. Ryan has led Morningside to a 13-0 record, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title and an appearance in the NAIA National Championship game. This is the Mustangs third appearance in the last four years in the national title game. He has an overall record of 207-39 in his 20 years as a head coach with 12 GPAC championships. Ryan earned AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year honors in 2018 and 2019 after leading Morningside to back-to-back undefeated seasons and NAIA national titles.
AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce the 2021 National Coaches of the Year winners in FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA on Monday, January 10. The Regional winners in each division are finalists for National Coach of the Year.
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. The number of divisions was also 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.
Repeat Winners: North Dakota State’s Matt Entz, Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver, Concordia’s (Mich.) Joshua Schumacher and Morningside’s Steve Ryan are the repeat winners from Spring 2021. Entz won his third in a row (2019, Spring 2021, 2021) while Oliver has seven to his name (2011, 2013-14, 2016-17, Spring 2021, 2021). Schumacher has two in row from Spring 2021 to Fall 2021. Ryan’s honors came in 2005, 2011-12 and eight in a row from 2014-21.
Multiple Winners: Other multiple winners in the 2021 class are Kevin Callahan (second: 2019), Jim Clements (third: 2010, 2019) and Jeff McMartin (second: 2007).
First Time Winners: Fourteen coaches earned their first AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Award in 2021: Villanova’s Mark Ferrante, Eastern Kentucky’s Walt Wells, Prairie View A&M’s Eric Dooley, Sam Houston’s K.C. Keeler, Bowie State’s Damon Wilson, Findlay’s Rob Keys, Angelo State’s Jeff Girsch, Western Colorado’s Jas Bains, U.S. Merchant Marine’s Mike Toop, Carnegie Mellon’s Rich Lackner, Trinity’s (Tex.) Jerheme Urban, Albion’s Dustin Beurer, Southwestern’s (Kan.) Brad Griffin and Texas Wesleyan’s Joe Prud’homme.
Most Awards: Mount Union’s Larry Kehres (1986, 1990, 1992-93, 1996-97, 1999-02, 2006-12) has the most district/regional honors in AFCA history, with 17. Ryan joins Penn State’s Joe Paterno (District 2: 1967-68, 1971-73, 1977-78, 1982; Region 1: 1985; Region 3: 1994, 2005) in second with 11 District/Regional Coach of the Year honors. Tied for third is Bloomsburg’s Danny Hale and Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Pete Fredenburg, each with 10 awards. Hale won his first three honors at West Chester and the rest at Bloomsburg (College Division I, Region 1 1986-88, 1994-95; Division II, Region 1, 2000-01, 2005-06, 2008). Fredenburg won his 10 in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012-14, 2016 and 2018. Eight coaches have won the award seven times: Tubby Raymond, Delaware; Jim Butterfield, Ithaca; Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson; Bo Schembechler, Miami (Ohio), Michigan; Bob Devaney, Nebraska; Tom Osborne, Nebraska; Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Missouri State; and Carmen Cozza, Yale. Seven coaches have won Regional honors six times: Vince Dooley, Georgia; Brian Kelly, Grand Valley State, Cincinnati, Notre Dame; Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky; John McKay, USC; Jerry Moore, Appalachian State; Darrell Royal, Texas; and Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.).
Most Winners by School: Mount Union-18 (Ken Wable-1, Larry Kehres-17); Nebraska-15 (Bob Devaney-7, Tom Osborne-7, Frank Solich-1); North Dakota State-16 (Darrell Mudra-1, Ron Erhardt-4, Jim Wacker-1, Don Morton-3, Earle Solomonson-1, Craig Bohl-2, Klieman-1, Entz-3); Penn State-12 (Rip Engle-1, Joe Paterno-11); Alabama-11 (Bear Bryant-4, Bill Curry-1, Gene Stallings-2, Mike Shula-1, Nick Saban-3); Morningside-11 (Steve Ryan-1); Texas-11 (Darrell Royal-6, Fred Akers-2, David McWilliams-1, Mack Brown-2); Mary Hardin-Baylor-10 (Pete Fredenburg-10); USC-10 (John McKay-6, John Robinson-2, Pete Carroll-2); Wittenberg-10 (Bill Edwards-3, Dave Maurer-4, Ron Murphy-1, Joe Fincham-2); Arkansas-9 (Frank Broyles-4, Lou Holtz-1, Ken Hatfield-1, Houston Nutt-2, Sam Pittman-1); Bloomsburg-9 (George Landis-1, Danny Hale-7, Paul Darragh-1); Eastern Kentucky-9 (Roy Kidd-6, Danny Hope-1, Dean Hood-1, Walt Wells-1); Ithaca-9 (Jim Butterfield-7, Mike Welch-2); Michigan-9 (Bump Elliott-2, Bo Schembechler-6, Lloyd Carr-1); New Hampshire-9 (Clarence Boston-1, Jim Root-1, Bill Bowes-3, Sean McDonnell-4); Dartmouth-8 (Bob Blackman-4, Jake Crouthamel-1, Joe Yukica-1, Buddy Teveens-2); Georgia-8 (Vince Dooley-6, Mark Richt-1, Kirby Smart-1); Lenoir-Rhyne-8 (Clarence Stasavich-2, Hanley Painter-2, John Perry-1, Charles Forbes-1, Drew Cronic-2); Northwest Missouri State-8 (Mel Tjeerdsma-7, Adam Dorrel-1); Ohio State-8 (Woody Hayes-4, Earle Bruce-1, John Cooper-3); Oklahoma-8 (Chuck Fairbanks-3, Barry Switzer-2, Bob Stoops-3); Texas A&M-Kingsville-8 (Gil Steinke-2, Ron Harms-5, Bo Atterberry-1); Yale-8 (Jordan Olivar-1, Carmen Cozza-7).
Two Consecutive Years, Two Schools: Mike Houston (The Citadel, 2015 & James Madison, 2016) joined seven other coaches who have earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors at two schools in consecutive years: Fred Akers (Wyoming, 1976 & Texas 1977), Dennis Franchione (Pittsburg State, 1989 & Texas State, 1990), Jim McElwain (Colorado State, 2014 & Florida, 2015), Hal Mumme (Valdosta State, 1996 & Kentucky, 1997), Dick Sheridan (Furman, 1985 & North Carolina State, 1986), Kevin Sumlin (Houston, 2011 & Texas A&M, 2012) and Joe Tiller (Wyoming, 1996 & Purdue, 1997).
Most Schools: South Carolina’s Lou Holtz is the only coach to earn AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors at four different schools. Holtz earned the honor at North Carolina State (1972), Arkansas (1979), Notre Dame (1988) and South Carolina (2000). Brian Kelly (Grand Valley State, Cincinnati, Notre Dame) became the seventh coach to win district or regional honors at three different schools in 2012. He joins Jerry Claiborne (Virginia Tech, Maryland, Kentucky), Darrell Mudra (North Dakota State, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa), Houston Nutt (Mississippi, Arkansas, Murray State), Mike Price (UTEP, Washington State, Weber State), Jim Sweeney (Montana State, Washington State, Fresno State) and Jim Wacker (North Dakota State, Texas State, TCU) on that list.
Consecutive Years: Morningside’s Steve Ryan jumps to first place with his eight straight NAIA Regional honors from 2014-21. Mount Union’s Larry Kehres is in second with seven consecutive years, winning in Division III from 2006-12. Jacksonville State’s John Grass, Northwest Missouri State’s Mel Tjeerdsma and Nebraska’s Bob Devaney are the only coaches to win district/regional honors in five consecutive years. Tjeerdsma earned the honor in Division II from 1996-2000. Devaney earned the honor in the AFCA’s old University Division (1962-66). Grass earned his five straight in FCS from 2014-18. Carroll’s Mike Van Diest, Trinity’s (Texas) Steve Mohr, North Dakota State’s Ron Erhardt and Kehres are the only men to win the award four years in a row. Van Diest earned the honor in NAIA from 2007-10, while Kehres won his four in a row from 1999-2002 in Division III. Erhardt earned district honors in the AFCA’s old College Division (1967-68-69-70) while Mohr earned the honor in Division III (1996-97-98-99). Sixteen coaches have earned district or regional honors three years in a row. Ithaca’s Jim Butterfield (1978-79-80 and 1984-85-86) earned the award in three consecutive years on two different occasions.
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.
