The improvement of the coaching profession and the sport of football has always been among the top priorities of the American Football Coaches Association since it was founded in 1922.
There were 43 coaches at the first informal meeting in 1921. The first formal meeting was held Dec. 27, 1921, in New York City at the Hotel Astor, and the Association officially came into being a few weeks later.
Since that time, the Association has grown to more than 10,000 members, including coaches from Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and Mexico. They share many of the same ideals as the founders — Amos Alonzo Stagg and John Heisman among them — and have been instrumental in developing the Association into the effective and highly-respected organization that exists today.
Founding Fathers
Among the early leaders of the Association was Maj. Charles Daly of the U.S. Military Academy. Daly served as the AFCA’s first president in 1922. He was the football coach at Army at that time and was instrumental in organizing the first meeting that eventually led to the founding of the AFCA.
Daly was succeeded by the legendary John Heisman as AFCA president in 1923. After serving as first vice president in 1922, Heisman served as president in both 1923 and 1924, becoming the first of only four men to lead the Association for two years. The remaining members of the AFCA’s first Board of Trustees included secretary-treasurer J.W. Wilce of Ohio State University and trustees Robert Fisher of Harvard University and Fielding Yost of the University of Michigan.
Presidents
Virtually all of the great coaches in college football have actively participated in the AFCA. Past presidents have included such respected coaches as Bear Bryant, University of Alabama; Darrell Royal, University of Texas; Carmen Cozza, Yale University; Eddie Robinson, Grambling State University; Bo Schembechler, University of Michigan; and Vince Dooley, University of Georgia.
Executive Directors
The AFCA has had four full-time executive directors: DeOrmond "Tuss" McLaughry (1960-65); William D. "Bill" Murray (1966-81), Charles Y. McClendon (1982-93), and the current executive director, Grant Teaff.
Constitution, Code of Ethics
According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of coaching football," and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching."The Association sets forth strong ethical and moral codes. The AFCA has established a code of ethics that governs all aspects of coaching. A member who does not follow the Code comes before the AFCA Ethics Committee, which is composed of his peers. The committee conducted a year-long study of the Code of Ethics in 1996 and, with the help of the membership, has revised and updated the code.
One of the primary reasons the Association was formed was to promote safety. An annual injury survey begun by the AFCA in the 1930s has provided valuable data and has led to a remarkable reduction of injuries in the sport down through the years. The NCAA Rules Committee often follows recommendations made by the AFCA.
Membership
The AFCA is considered the primary professional association for football coaches at all levels of competition. The 10,000-member organization includes more than 90 percent of head coaches at the 700-plus schools that sponsor football at the college level.
The Active I membership is composed of coaches who are affiliated with four-year institutions and is responsible for determining the policies and postures of the Association. Active II members are coaches from the professional, junior college or high school coaching ranks or those who are affiliated with schools which are not members of the NCAA or NAIA. Allied members include athletic administrators, video coordinators, strength coaches or retired coaches. Other categories are Foreign membership and Life membership, which includes honorary members, 35-year members and Amos Alonzo Stagg Award recipients.The Association is involved in numerous programs that promote the integrity of the profession and the development of the game. Three yearly publications and a bi-monthly newsletter keep the membership abreast of the most recent developments in the game of football and also report Association business conducted by the Board of Trustees and AFCA committees.
Working Relationships
The AFCA stands as the single entity solely representing all levels of football and the football coaching profession. The AFCA works closely with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the National Football League, the Canadian Football League, USA Football, the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Pop Warner Football and other organizations involved in the game.
Events and Programs
The AFCA teams with USA Today to select and honor national football champions. The athletics department of the AFCA Coaches’ Poll champion each January receives the AFCA Coaches’ Trophy and a $20,000 academic scholarship. The remaining NCAA and NAIA national champions also receive trophies from the AFCA. The presentation is made at the AFCA Convention.
The AFCA was instrumental in the creation of NCAA Football. NCAA Football is a coalition including the AFCA, NCAA, NACDA and Collegiate Commissioners Association that was formed to improve, preserve and promote the game of college football.
The flagship event of the Association is the annual AFCA Convention. Held each January, the convention gives the membership an opportunity to exchange ideas and provides a forum that has been beneficial to the sport and profession. During the convention, coaches of conference and national champions are honored, as well as coaches selected by their peers for superior coaching performances. In addition to the AFCA Coach of the Year Award, which is voted on by the Active members of the Association, AFCA committees select the AFCA Coaches’ All-America Teams in four divisions.
The Amos Alonzo Stagg Award and the Tuss McLaughry Award, two of the most prestigious awards given in college football, are sponsored by the AFCA and presented to deserving recipients during the convention. The Stagg Award is given for contributions to college football, and the McLaughry Award is given for distinguished service to mankind.
The Assistant Coach of the Year Award was created by the AFCA to recognize assistant coaches who have distinguished themselves through on the field excellence and service to their communities.
The Good Works Team and Academic Achievement Awards are former College Football Association honors now being presented by the AFCA.
The Good Works Team is a community service All-America Team designed to recognize college football players for their community service work.
The Academic Achievement Award is presented to the Division I-A school with the best graduation rate in college football.
In 2002, the Power of Influence Award was created to recognize a deserving high school coach.
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