The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards, presented by ProGrass, are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. Finalists were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors and other athletic department personnel. The winner will be chosen by the previous winners of this award and will be announced on Friday December 19h.
The 2014 FootballScoop Coaches of the Year will be recognized and will receive their awards at an event held in their honor at the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention in January in Louisville, KY.
Previous winners of the FCS Coordinator of the Year award are Heishman Northern (Prairie View A&M, 2008), Bob Shoop (William & Mary, 2009), Nick Rapone (Delaware, 2010), Scott Stoker (Sam Houston State, 2011), Chris Klieman (North Dakota State, 2012), and Sterlin Gilbert (Eastern Illinois, 2013)
Don Bailey, Idaho State
One year ago, Idaho State finished 3-9 (the Bengals won nine games total from 2008-13) and ranked 82nd nationally in scoring offense, putting up 13 points or less five times. This year, the Bengals went 8-4 and scored at least 30 points in their last 10 games. Idaho State ranks sixth in scoring offense, first in passing offense and second in total offense. Quarterback Justin Arias leads FCS in passing and touchdowns, and stands one of only two Division I quarterbacks to surpass the 4,000-yard barrier and throw at least 38 touchdowns.
Key Stats
- QB Justin Arias leads FCS in passing yards (4,076) and touchdowns (38)
- 2nd in total offense (562 yards per game)
- 6th in scoring offense (40.3 points per game)
- 5-win improvement from 2013
Matt Entz, North Dakota State
Matt Entz has successfully kept the torch of excellent Bison defenses aflame in 2014. North Dakota State ranks among the top 13 nationally in total defense, rushing defense, passing defense, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense, turnover margin, third down defense and first downs defense. And they're 11-1, four wins away a fourth straight national championship.
Key Stats
- 1st in scoring defense
- 1st in pass efficiency defense
- 2nd in first downs defense
- 3rd in total defense
Aaron Best and Zak Hill, Eastern Washington
The high-flying Eagles turned in another spectacular season, leading FCS by averaging 44.6 points per game, ranking second in passing efficiency, and third in both passing offense and total offense. Eastern Washington also has the nation's second-best red zone offense, converting 96 percent of their chances into points. Their best performance, incidentally, came in a loss, as Vernon Adams threw for 475 yards and seven touchdowns in a 59-52 setback at Washington. Most impressively, EWU lost Adams to a broken foot midway through the season, and backup Jordan West picked up right where he left off, throwing for nine touchdowns and one interception.
Key Stats
- 1st in scoring offense
- 2nd in red zone offense
- 2nd in passing efficiency
- 8th in third down offense
Joe Conlin, Yale
Conlin was promoted to offensive coordinator in April, and the Yale's offense took off from there. After finishing solidly in the middle of the pack, ranked 35th to 72nd in every major category, in 2013, the 8-2 Elis rank among the top seven in almost every major metric. They're first in total offense, fifth in passing, seventh in rushing, seventh in passing efficiency, fourth in scoring and second in third downs. And they pulled out the Ivy League's first win over an FBS program since 1986 with a 49-43 overtime win over Army, a game in which they racked up 335 rushing yards, 290 passing yards and 36 first downs.
Key Stats
- 1st in total offense (571.5 yards per game)
- 2nd in third down conversions (51.7 percent)
- 4th in scoring offense (41.1 points per game)
- 5th in passing offense (323.6 yards per game)
- 7th in rushing offense (247.9 yards per game)
Mark DeBastiani, Norfolk State
Norfolk State finished 4-8 this fall, but don't blame the defense. The Spartans ranked second in total defense, seventh in rushing defense, fourth in passing defense, seventh in scoring defense, fourth in red zone defense, 11th in first downs defense and 13th in third downs defense. Norfolk State had the misfortune of losing games while holding opponents to 10, 17, 13, 13 and 19 points.
Key Stats
- 7th in yards per play (6.86)
- 11th in yards per carry (5.63)
- 8th in yards per attempt (8.9)
- 5th in scoring offense (44.1 points per game)
- 20th in tackles for loss allowed (4.75)
Lyle Hemphill, Stony Brook
Stony Brook was one of the few defenses across the college football universe to rank among the top 16 nationally in the big eight defensive categories: total defense, yards per play, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense, third down defense, red zone defense and first downs defense. The Sea Wolves finished 5-7 this season, but still held opponents to 13 points or fewer seven times in 12 games.
Key Stats
- 3rd in red zone defense (60.7 percent)
- 4th in scoring defense (15.3 points per game)
- 4th in total defense (273.3 yards per game)
- 5th in third downs defense (27.6 percent)
- 6th in first downs defense (174 in 12 games)
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