AFCA Regional Coach of the Year winners selected

WACO, TEX. — Alabama’s Nick Saban and Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Pete Fredenburg highlight today’s announcement of the American Football Coaches Association’s 2016 Regional Coach of the Year winners. The 2016 FBS and FCS Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the inaugural American Football Coaches Awards, televised live on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 9 p.m. EST. The 2016 Division II, Division III and NAIA Regional winners will be honored at the AFCA Victory Luncheon at the 2017 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, also on January 10 at 11:30 a.m.

The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association’s five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, 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.

Saban earned his second AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honor by guiding the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 overall record, the Southeastern Conference title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. In his 21 seasons as a head coach, Saban has an overall record of 204-60-1 and a 113-18 mark at Alabama with four national titles in the past seven years. Fredenburg earned his ninth AFCA Regional honor, which places him fourth on the all-time list. He has guided Mary Hardin-Baylor to a 13-0 record, a 14th American Southwest Conference title and a trip to the NCAA Division III semifinals. Fredenburg is 194-38 in 19 seasons at UMHB.

2016 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners

Football Bowl Subdivision

Region 1: Ken Niumatalolo, U.S. Naval Academy

Region 2: Nick Saban, University of Alabama

Region 3: P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan University

Region 4: Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia University

Region 5: Mike MacIntyre, University of Colorado

Football Championship Subdivision

Region 1: Mike Houston, James Madison University*

Region 2: Rod Broadway, North Carolina A&T University & Jerry Mack, North Carolina Central University (tie)

Region 3: John Grass, Jacksonville State University*

Region 4: John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State University

Region 5: Kyle Schweigert, University of North Dakota

Division II

Region 1: Gary Dunn, California University of Pennsylvania

Region 2: Bobby Wallace, University of North Alabama

Region 3: Adam Dorrel, Northwest Missouri State University

Region 4: Ronnie Huckeba, Harding University

Region 5: Jed Stugart, University of Sioux Falls

Division III

Region 1: Bob Rankl, Alfred University

Region 2: Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins University

Region 3: Pete Fredenburg, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Region 4: Jeff Thorne, North Central College

Region 5: Tyler Staker, Coe College

NAIA

Region 1: Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College & Drew Cronic, Reinhardt University* (tie)

Region 2: Kevin Donley, University of Saint Francis (Ind.)*

Region 3: Mike Grossner, Baker University*

Region 4: Steve Ryan, Morningside College*

Region 5: Chuck Morrell, Montana Tech

*-2015 winner

AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce the 2016 FBS and FCS National Coaches of the Year winners at the inaugural American Football Coaches Awards, televised on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, January 10 at 9 p.m. EST, during the 2017 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The Division II, Division III and NAIA National Cocahes of the Year will be announced at the AFCA Victory Luncheon, also on Tuesday, January 10. The Regional winners in each division will be the finalists for National Coach of the Year.