Football 1/9/2024 11:30:00 AM Scott Goode (1/9/24)

PAUL SIMMONS NAMED AFCA’S 2023 NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

NASHVILLE, TENN. — During the 2024 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention, the AFCA presented its top coaching award — AFCA National Coach of the Year — to five outstanding coaches, including Harding's Paul Simmons in Division II.

Washington's Kalen DeBoer (FBS), UAlbany's Greg Gattuso (FCS), Harding's Paul Simmons (Division II), Cortland's Curt Fitzpatrick (Division III) and Keiser's Doug Socha (NAIA) are the 2023 AFCA National Coach of the Year winners.

The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in the Association's five divisions. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.

Simmons guided Harding to a 15-0 record, the Great American Conference title and the program's first-ever NCAA Division II national championship. With its 502 rushing yards in the national championship game, Harding became the first team in college football history to rush for more than 6,000 yards in a season. Simmons completed his eighth season as head coach of the Bisons and has an overall record of 65-13 with five playoff appearances and two GAC titles. This is his first AFCA National Coach of the Year honor, and he is the first head coach from Harding to ever win this award.

DeBoer won his fourth AFCA National Coach of the Year award by leading Washington to the most wins in program history, an appearance in the College Football Playoff national title game and the Pac-12 Championship.

Gattuso earned his first AFCA National honor by leading UAlbany to its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association title, its first 11-win season and first appearance in the FCS semifinals.

In only his third season as head coach, Fitzpatrick led Cortland to a 14-1 record and the program's first-ever NCAA Division III national championship.

Socha earned his first AFCA National Coach of the Year honor by leading Keiser to the program's first NAIA National title.

Award History
Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf, then of Northwestern, was named as the first AFCA Coach of the Year in 1935. One national winner was selected from 1935 through 1959. From 1960 through 1982, two national winners were selected — one representing the University Division and one from the College Division. From 1983-2005, four national winners were chosen.

In 2006, the AFCA started honoring an NAIA Coach of the Year, bringing the total to the five honorees we have today. Prior to 2006, the NAIA was a part of the AFCA's Division II membership category.

Voting Process
The current balloting procedure involves selection of 25 regional winners: five regional winners in each of the five divisions – FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, who become finalist for national coach of the year. Following regional voting, five national winners – one from each division – are chosen.

AFCA Coach of the Year Winners — All-Time List

Division II
1983    Don Morton, North Dakota St.
1984    Chan Gailey, Troy St.
1985    George Landis, Bloomsburg
1986    Earle Solomonson, North Dakota St.
1987    Rick Rhoades, Troy St.
1988    Rocky Hager, North Dakota St.
1989    John Williams, Mississippi College
1990    Rocky Hager, North Dakota St.
1991    Chuck Broyles, Pittsburg St.
1992    Bill Burgess, Jacksonville St.
1993    Bobby Wallace, North Alabama
1994    Bobby Wallace, North Alabama
1995    Bobby Wallace, North Alabama
1996    Joe Glenn, Northern Colorado
1997    Joe Glenn, Northern Colorado
1998    Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
1999    Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
2000    Danny Hale, Bloomsburg
2001    Dale Lennon, North Dakota
2002    Brian Kelly, Grand Valley St.
2003    Brian Kelly, Grand Valley St.
           Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.) (tie)
2004    Chris Hatcher, Valdosta St.
2005    Chuck Martin, Grand Valley St.
2006    Chuck Martin, Grand Valley St.
2007    David Dean, Valdosta St.
2008    Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
2009    Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwest Mo. St.
2010    Bob Nielson, Minnesota-Duluth
2011    Paul Winters, Wayne St. (Mich.)
2012    David Dean, Valdosta St.
2013    Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St.
2014    John Wristen, Colorado St.-Pueblo
2015    Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St.
2016    Adam Dorrel, Northwest Mo. St.
2017    Pete Shinnick, West Florida
2018    Drew Cronic, Lenoir-Rhyne
2019    Todd Hoffner, Minnesota St.
2021    Damon Wilson, Bowie St.
2022    Brandon Moore, Colorado Mines
2023    Paul Simmons, Harding

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PAUL SIMMONS NAMED AFCA’S 2023 NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR