35 Under 35 – Presented by Riddell | Accepting Applications July 1st-July 31st
June 30, 2026
The 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, presented by Riddell, is a one-day event designed to identify and train rising leaders in the game of football and the coaching profession. The institute will feature interactive lectures on topics that include ethics, leadership, NCAA rules, financial management, the hiring process, and athlete safety.
With the American Football Coaches Foundation’s involvement, the AFCA created a prestigious program to identify and develop premier future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend a one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Application Period
The application window for the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 class will be open from July 1–31, 2026. All application materials must be submitted via email to [email protected] by the end of the day on July 31, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 35 years of age or younger as of January 1st.
- Serve as a full-time assistant or head coach at a Division I, II, III, NAIA, or Junior College institution, or serve as a High School Head Coach.
Application Instructions
To be considered, applicants must submit the following materials to [email protected]:
- Current resume
- Name and contact information for five (5) professional references (not letters of recommendation)
- Date of birth
- Signed Consent Form
- The Consent Form to share your article/video can be found here: 35U35 Consent
One (1) of the following content submissions:
- A written article (minimum of 1,600 words) on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic.
- The article must include diagrams of plays or drills.
- Submit in PDF format.
- An ORIGINAL high-quality video or live instruction (minimum of 10 minutes) of an offensive, defensive, or special teams scheme, play/concept, or drill
Note: Please do not write an article or create a video on a topic that you are not willing to share with the public.
For more information, including submission examples, please visit afca.com/35under35
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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The 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, presented by Riddell, is a one-day event designed to identify and train rising leaders in the game of football and the coaching profession. The institute will feature interactive lectures on topics that include ethics, leadership, NCAA rules, financial management, the hiring process, and athlete safety.
With the American Football Coaches Foundation’s involvement, the AFCA created a prestigious program to identify and develop premier future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend a one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Application Period
The application window for the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 class will be open from July 1–31, 2026. All application materials must be submitted via email to [email protected] by the end of the day on July 31, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 35 years of age or younger as of January 1st.
- Serve as a full-time assistant or head coach at a Division I, II, III, NAIA, or Junior College institution, or serve as a High School Head Coach.
Application Instructions
To be considered, applicants must submit the following materials to [email protected]:
- Current resume
- Name and contact information for five (5) professional references (not letters of recommendation)
- Date of birth
- Signed Consent Form
- The Consent Form to share your article/video can be found here: 35U35 Consent
One (1) of the following content submissions:
- A written article (minimum of 1,600 words) on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic.
- The article must include diagrams of plays or drills.
- Submit in PDF format.
- An ORIGINAL high-quality video or live instruction (minimum of 10 minutes) of an offensive, defensive, or special teams scheme, play/concept, or drill
Note: Please do not write an article or create a video on a topic that you are not willing to share with the public.
For more information, including submission examples, please visit afca.com/35under35
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.
