SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – The American Football Coaches Association announced Bowie State head football coach
Damon Wilson as the AFCA National Coach of the Year for the NCAA Division II on Monday morning at the Centennial AFCA Convention.
"This is the ultimate team award," said Wilson. "I appreciate the recognition but it's impossible to win this award without great coaches, players and alum's buying in. I understand the impact of this award and its history."
Wilson, in his 12
th year as head coach of the Bulldogs football program, guided Bowie State to a 12-2 record, BSU's third-straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division title and championship with a 7-0 league record, and the programs fourth consecutive NCAA appearance and first ever NCAA quarterfinal appearance in program history.
He was the CIAA Coach of the Year and AFCA Super Region II Coach of the Year. Wilson has an 89-45 overall record with a total of four NCAA playoff appearances, a total of seven CIAA Northern Division titles and three CIAA championships.
The award is the first for not only Bowie State but for the CIAA conference as Wilson becomes the first CIAA coach to win the prestigious award.
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.
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