FootballScoop is proud to announce that Jackson Vaughan (Linfield) is the 2014 Division III Coordinator of the Year presented by ProGrass.
Linfield posted an 11-2 mark this fall on the backs of one of the most well-rounded defenses in college football.
The Wildcats ranked second nationally in scoring defense at 235.8 yards per game allowed while placing second in pass efficiency defense and 18th in rushing defense. Opposing passers completed 47 percent of their throws for a paltry 4.7 yards per attempt with nine touchdown passes against 18 interceptions. Linfield also limited opposing rushers to just 2.72 yards per carry.
Vaughan's defense also placed among the top 1o in scoring defense, allowing just 13.2 points per game. The Wildcats nine opponents to 14 points or less, and did not permit an opponent to top the 14-point barrier until the calendar hit November.
Linfield ranked seventh in 15th down defense, allowing conversions just 28.4 percent of the time.
Linfield reached the semifinals of the Division III playoffs, falling to eventual champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 20-14. The 20 points was the fewest Whitewater totaled in its last seven games of the season, and less than half the 43 points the Warhawks posted on Mount Union in the national championship game.
Defensive end Alex Hoff was named a First Team All-West Region honoree by D3Football.com, and both defensive tackle Jeremy Girod and safety Jordan Giza garnered second-team nods. Hoff ranked second in Division III with 2.3 tackles for loss per game.
Vaughan has been a member of the Linfield coaching staff since his junior year of college. He played football as a freshman before suffering a career-ending injury, and spent his sophomore year with the campus radio station. Vaughan then joined the coaching staff a year later, and recently completed his 19th season on staff - ninth as defensive coordinator. The Hereford, Ore., native is also a wildly successful softball coach, leading Linfield to a 450-101-1 record with nine straight conference titles and two national championships.
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. The finalists (Geoff Dart [Mount Union], Chris Shula [John Carroll], Tom Zagorski [John Carroll], B.J. Hammer [Wabash], Colin Bruton [Lakeland] and Vaughan) were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors, and athletic department personnel. The prior winners selected this year's winner.
Vaughan will receive his award and be recognized at an event at the AFCA Convention in January.
Previous winners of the Division III Coordinator of the Year award are Glen Fowles (Williamette [Ore.], 2008), Jim Zebrowski (Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2009), Vince Kehres (Mount Union [Ohio], 2010), Wallie Kuchinski (Saint Thomas [Minn.], 2011), John O'Grady (Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 2012) and Brian Borland (Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2013).
