wach-afca-coach of year
Chuck Steenburgh

Football

Wachenheim Named 2020-21 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year

WACO, Texas — VMI's Scott Wachenheim has been named the 2021 Spring AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year. Wachenheim was selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at Football Championship Subdivision schools. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935.

"I am honored to be recognized by the AFCA as the 2021 Spring FCS National Coach of the Year," Wachenheim said. "It is an acknowledgment of the efforts of our entire football team and staff. We competed with grit, brotherhood, purpose and all 10 toes down this season. I am very appreciative that my peers in the profession believed our efforts were worthy of this esteemed award."

The current balloting procedure involves selection of five regional winners who become finalist for national coach of the year. The other finalist were Danny Rocco, Delaware; Dean Hood, Murray State; Matt Entz, North Dakota State and Jay Hill, Weber State. 

Wachenheim earned his first AFCA National honor by guiding VMI to a 6-2 record, the program's first Southern Conference title since 1977 and their first-ever playoff appearance. The spring 2021 season was the Keydets first winning campaign since 1981 and they earned their first national ranking since joining the FCS ranks in 1982. VMI has been ranked in every AFCA Top 25 poll this spring, with a high of No. 10 on March 30.

Wachenheim began his coaching career in 1984 at Air Force after a four-year playing career. He was the offensive coordinator on the Academy's junior varsity squad before active-duty commitment took him away from coaching. Wachenheim returned to coaching in 1989 as an assistant at Arkansas under his former head coach, Ken Hatfield. He spent two seasons with the Razorbacks before joining the Colorado staff for one year. Wachenheim rejoined Hatfield at Rice from 1994 to 2005, serving as the Owl's offensive coordinator his last five seasons.

Wachenheim joined the Liberty football program in 2006 and served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for three years before making the jump to the NFL as tight ends coach at Washington in 2009. He returned to college football at Virginia in 2010, serving as offensive line coach his last four years before being named head coach at VMI in 2015.

 
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 FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III.
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.
 
Most Awards: Appalachian State's Jerry Moore (2005-07) is the only three-time AFCA FCS Coach of the Year winner. Five coaches have won two FCS National honors, most recently with Craig Bohl at North Dakota State in 2012 and 2013.
 

AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year Winners – All-Time List
1983  Rey Dempsey, Southern Illinois
1984  Dave Arnold, Montana St.
1985  Dick Sheridan, Furman
1986  Erk Russell, Georgia Southern
1987  Mark Duffner, Holy Cross
1988  Jimmy Satterfield, Furman
1989  Erk Russell, Georgia Southern
1990  Tim Stowers, Georgia Southern
1991  Jim Tressel, Youngstown St.
1992  Charlie Taaffe, The Citadel
1993  Dan Allen, Boston University
1994  Jim Tressel, Youngstown St.
1995   Don Read, Montana
1996  Ray Tellier, Columbia
1997   Andy Talley, Villanova
1998  Mark Whipple, Massachusetts
1999  Paul Johnson, Georgia Southern
2000  Paul Johnson, Georgia Southern
2001  Bobby Johnson, Furman
2002  Jack Harbaugh, Western Kentucky
2003  Dick Biddle, Colgate
2004  Mickey Matthews, James Madison
2005  Jerry Moore, Appalachian St.
2006  Jerry Moore, Appalachian St.
2007  Jerry Moore, Appalachian St.
2008  Mike London, Richmond
2009  Andy Talley, Villanova
2010  K.C. Keeler, Delaware
2011  Willie Fritz, Sam Houston St.
2012  Craig Bohl, North Dakota St.
2013  Craig Bohl, North Dakota St.
2014  Sean McDonnell, New Hampshire
2015  John Grass, Jacksonville St.
2016  Mike Houston, James Madison
2017  Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw St.
2018  Joe Harasymiak, Maine
2019  Matt Entz, North Dakota St.
2020-21  Scott Wachenheim, VMI
 
College Division
1960  Warren Woodson, New Mexico St.
1961  Alonzo S. Gaither, Florida A&M
1962  William M. Edwards, Wittenberg
1963  William M. Edwards, Wittenberg
1964  Clarence Stasavich, East Carolina
1965  Jack Curtice, UC-Santa Barbara
1966  Dan Jessee, Trinity College
1967  A.C. Moore, UT-Chattanooga
1968  Jim Root, New Hampshire
1969  Larry Naviaux, Boston University
1970  Bennie Ellender, Arkansas St.
1971  Tubby Raymond, Delaware
1972  Tubby Raymond, Delaware
1973  Dave Maurer, Wittenberg
1974  Roy Kramer, Central Michigan
1975  Dave Maurer, Wittenberg
1976  Jim Dennison, Akron
1977  Bill Manlove, Widener
1978  Lee Tressel, Baldwin-Wallace
1979  Bill Narduzzi, Youngstown St.
1980  Rick Carter, Dayton
1981  Vito Ragazzo, Shippensburg St.
1982  Jim Wacker, Southwest Texas St.
 
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