Press release
Rawlings Football has named Brad Smiley of Trinity Valley Community College as Junior College Coach of the Year for 2014.
In addition, the annual awards include college coaches of the year for the FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA. High school winners include a national Coach of the Year along with five regional coaches of the year – East, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. The awards were given in association with American Football Monthly, the leading resource for coaches everywhere.
TVCC averaged 58.5 points per game this past season under Smiley, finishing with an undefeated – 12-0 – season. In the C.H.A.M.P.S Heart of Texas Bowl, Trinity Valley defeated Coffeyville Community College, 27-24.
The other college winners include:
FBS – Urban Meyer, Ohio State – Meyer guided the Buckeyes to a 14-1 record and the national championship, defeating Oregon in the title game, 42-20. Ohio State won their last three games – victories over Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon – with their third string quarterback, Cardale Jones.
FCS – Chris Kleiman, North Dakota State – Kleiman guided NDSU to their fourth straight FCS title, defeating Illinois State in the championship game. It was Kleiman’s first year as head coach and he led the Bison to a 15-1 record.
Division II – John Wristen, Colorado State-Pueblo – Wristen started the football program in 2007 and this past fall won the Division II championship, defeating Minnesota State-Mankato, 13-0, in the title game. The Thunderwolves finished with a 14-1 record.
Division III – Lance Leipold, Wisconsin-Whitewater – UW-W won their sixth championship in Leipold’s eight years as head coach. The Warhawks defeated Mount Union in the title game last season, 43-34. Leipold recently accepted the head coaching position at the University of Buffalo.
NAIA – Craig Howard, Southern Oregon – Under Howard, Southern Oregon completed a 13-2 season by winning the NAIA championship. The Raiders defeated Marian University in the title game, 55-31.
High School-
National Coach of the Year – Tony Sanchez, Bishop Gorman (NV) – Under Sanchez, Bishop Gorman played a national schedule against ranked-prep teams and finished the season 15-0. Sanchez recently accepted the head coaching position at UNLV.
East – Chris Scott, Ocean Lakes High School (VA) – Scott and Ocean Lakes completed an undefeated season (15-0) and won the Class 6A Virginia State Championship.
Southeast – Jess Simpson, Buford High School (GA) – Buford won their third consecutive Georgia 4A State Championship with a perfect 15-0 season.
Midwest – John Roderique, Webb City High School (MO) – Under Roderique, Webb City finished 15-0 to win their fifth straight Class 4 Missouri State Championship.
Southwest – Tom Westerberg, Allen High School (TX) – The Allen Eagles finished 16-0 last fall and now have won three straight Texas 6A-1 State Championships.
West – Jason Alumbaugh, De La Salle High School (CA) – The De La Salle Spartans completed a perfect 14-0 season by winning the CIF Open Division Bowl Championship.