San Jose State University Head Coach Dick Tomey will lead the American Football Coaches Association in 2009 as president of the organization.

Tomey, who moves up from first vice-president of the Association, succeeds outgoing president Tyrone Willingham of the University of Washington. Tomey was elected president by members attending the Association’s 2009 convention this week in Nashville.

“This is a thrill because I can remember back when I came to the AFCA Convention for the very first time,” Tomey said. “I rode in the luggage compartment of a station wagon with six other coaches as we headed to New York City for the 1964 convention. When you achieve an honor such as this, all those memories start coming back. To be the president of the AFCA for 2009 is very humbling.”

In addition to Tomey, 2009 AFCA officers include first vice-president Larry Kehres of Mount Union College; second vice-president Rob Ash of Montana State University and third vice-president Mike Bellotti of the University of Oregon.

Also serving on the Board in 2009: Tim Murphy, Harvard University; Rich Rodriguez, University of Michigan; Mike Welch, Ithaca College; Jim Tressel, Ohio State University; Mack Brown, University of Texas; Lee Owens, Ashland University; Jim Grobe, Wake Forest University; Bill Cronin, Georgetown College (Ky.); Lou Tepper, Indiana University (Pa.), Frank Solich, Ohio University; Randy Edsall, University of Connecticut and Rob Ianello, University of Notre Dame, ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee. Bobby Johnson of Vanderbilt University and Turner Gill of the University of Buffalo are newly-elected members of the Board this year. AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.

One of the most respected and accomplished men in college football, Dick Tomey enters 2009 in his fifth season as the head coach of the San Jose State Spartans and the President of the 10,000-plus member American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Named the 26th head coach in school history December 29, 2004, Tomey has resurrected the Spartans football program.

In his first four seasons, San Jose State has a 2006 New Mexico Bowl title and 23 wins – more victories than any four-season span at the university in the last 15 years. The Spartans’ 15 wins in their last 20 Spartan Stadium games have translated to an unprecedented 300-plus percent rise in home attendance from 2004 to the present.

Tomey has turned San Jose State into a consistent Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship contender. The 2006, 2007 and 2008 Spartans posted conference marks of .500 or better. As a result, the Spartans have been bowl-eligible two of the last three years.

Tomey’s “team first” belief paved the way for San Jose State’s finest season of the 21st century in 2006. The Spartans posted a 9-4 win-loss record, its best since 1990. He is among a select group of head coaches to reach nine victories in a season at three different NCAA FBS institutions and enters the 2009 season among the top-15 active FBS coaches for bowl victories and post-season winning percentage.

Presently, his 181 career victories, all in the Football Bowl Subdivision, rank fourth among active coaches. Only Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Mack Brown have more wins in FBS/Division I-A games. His overall head coaching record from his years at San Jose State University (2005-08), the University of Arizona (1987-2000) and the University of Hawai’i (1977-86) is 181-135-7. In 28 seasons as a head coach, he has never experienced back-to-back losing seasons. Tomey is the only head coach who ranks in the top-10 for conference coaching victories in both the WAC and the Pacific-10 Conference.

The 2009 season will be his 46th year coaching football. His impact, dedication and love for the game are evident in his role as this year’s AFCA President.  More than 35 of his protégées are coaching either in the National Football League or at the NCAA Division I level. Rich Ellerson (Army), Pat Hill (Fresno State), June Jones (SMU), Ron McBride (Weber State) and Tom Williams (Yale) are head coaches at NCAA Division I programs.