VMI’s Scott Wachenheim Named 2021 Spring AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year
May 13, 2021
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.
RELATED CONTENT: Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver Named 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year
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.
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.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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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.
RELATED CONTENT: Lindsey Wilson’s Chris Oliver Named 2021 Spring AFCA NAIA National Coach of the Year
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.
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.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
