AFCA Announces 2018 Assistant Coach Of The Year Award Winners
November 27, 2018
The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2018 Assistant Coach of the Year winners. One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities. A total of 37 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA were nominated in 2018.
Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee.
The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.
The 2018 honorees are as follows:
FBS– Jeff Faris, Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Duke University
FCS– Milo Austin, Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers/Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Morehead State University
Division II– Marcus Hilliard, Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line, Virginia Union University
Division III– Mickey Rehring, Defensive Coordinator, Johns Hopkins University
NAIA– Phil Kleckler, Defensive Coordinator, Lindsey Wilson College
“Once again, five outstanding assistant coaches have been selected for their dedication, not only to their teams, but to their communities,” said AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry. “Oftentimes, the head coach receives much of the credit for his team’s success, but any head coach is only as good as his assistants. Much of an assistant coach’s work is done behind the scenes. It is our pleasure to bring it to the forefront.”
The criteria for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all taken into account in the selection process.
RELATED ARTICLE: Verne Lundquist To Receive The AFCA’s 2019 Tuss McLaughry Award
Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate their recognition. They will be honored at the AFCA Honors Luncheon, presented by Amway, held Monday, January 7, during the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world, ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to “maintain the highest possible standards in football and the coaching profession” and to “provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching.”
AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Finalists for 2018
Football Bowl Subdivision
Jeff Faris, Duke
Mike Locksley, Alabama
Jeff Scott, Clemson
Football Championship Subdivision
Milo Austin, Morehead State
John Hendrick, Jackson State
Division II
John Cryder, Carson-Newman
Marcus Hilliard, Virginia Union
Mike Long, Wingate
Division III
Kevin Baumann, Franklin & Marshall
Luke Cutkomp, Chicago
Mickey Rehring, Johns Hopkins
NAIA
Phil Kleckler, Lindsey Wilson
Damaso Munoz, Keiser
Andrew Rode, Concordia (Mich.)
Assistant Coach of the Year Notes
109 assistant coaches from 83 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 … Bethel (Minn.) joins Campbellsville, Carson-Newman and Hampton as schools with three winners each … Duke, Johns Hopkins and Lindsey Wilson join Air Force, Benedictine (Kan.), Carroll (Mont.), Central (Iowa), Clemson, Morningside, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State, Tabor, Wabash, Washington (Mo.) and Winona State with two winners each.
The Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Jeff Faris, Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Duke: Faris is in his fifth season as a college coach, all at Duke … Regularly volunteers in the activity room at Duke Children’s Hospital, providing assistance to visitors of the hospital who are taking a break from treatments … Also regularly visits the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and spends time with families who are staying their while their children receive treatment … Was selected in 2017 to participate in the AFCA 30 Under 30 Leadership Institute … Member of the AFCA Professional Development Series Committee which does their work during the annual AFCA Convention … Takes his own vacation time each year to travel to Clinton, Tennessee, and speak at the Clinton Rotary Club … Helped guide former Blue Devil Jamison Crowder to first team All-ACC honors in 2014, T.J. Rahming to honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2017 and tight end Daniel Helm to third team All-ACC honors in 2018.
Football Championship Subdivision
Milo Austin, Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers/Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Morehead State: Austin has spent 11 years coaching college football, with the last four at Morehead State … An active member of the AFCA, Austin serves on the Program Committee and spoke during the Skills and Drills portion of the 2018 AFCA Convention in Charlotte … Has volunteered for Build a Bed project, which makes beds for underserved families in the local community … Founded and ran the Full Focus Foundation, a youth life skills development program … As Director of Player Development at Cincinnati in 2010, Austin guided the “Cats in the Community” initiative and created the Cats Life Skills seminar program … Participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship with the St. Louis Rams in the summer of 2013, and with the Los Angeles Chargers in the summer of 2018 … Was an assistant coach for Team USA in the FISU World Collegiate Games in Harbin, China, in the summer of 2018 … Has coached an All-Conference or All-American performer in each year he has coached.
Division II
Marcus Hilliard, Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line, Virginia Union: Hilliard has been coaching college football for 15 years, and recently completed his first season at Virginia Union … Volunteers with Go Team Impact, which is a special program for children with physical challenges … Vice President of the HOME TEAM Foundation, which is a non-profit organization with the mission to provide a unique environment and experience for youth and children by providing access to high quality sports programs … Volunteered with Miracles of Faith Ministry on the adopt-a-family initiative which provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, clothing and toys for underprivileged families in the Wayne County, North Carolina, area … Active member of the Omega Psi Phi, Delta Iota Chapter, which raises funds for local youth scholarships and sponsors a clothing drive for underprivileged families in Northeastern North Carolina … Member of the AFCA Division II Assistant Coaches Committee since 2012 and the AFCA Minority Issues Committee since 2016 … Guided a Virginia Union defense in 2018 that led the CIAA in points allowed (18.9 ppg), total defense (313.6 ypg) and passing defense (179.7 ypg), team went 8-2 on the season with two shutouts … Has been a part of 10 winning seasons in his 15 years as a coach.
Division III
Mickey Rehring, Defensive Coordinator, Johns Hopkins: Rehring has spent 10 years coaching college football, with the last seven at Johns Hopkins … Has organized the Johns Hopkins “Be The Match” Bone Marrow registry drives over the past four years … Takes the lead in visits with special needs students at Cockeysville and Hereford Middle Schools … Assisted in Johns Hopkins’ partnership with Friends of Jaclyn by “adopting” a boy who is battling malignant brain tumors … Volunteers at Lauren’s First & Goal camp where all proceeds go towards pediatric brain tumor research … Being a Type 1 Diabetic who has a pump and monitors his disease throughout each day, Rehring serves as a role model for some Johns Hopkins student-athletes with similar long-term health challenges … Since taking over as defensive coordinator, Rehring has helped lead Johns Hopkins to a 58-2 regular season record and led the defense to be nationally ranked in several categories … Has coached numerous All-Conference and All-America players.
NAIA
Phil Kleckler, Defensive Coordinator, Lindsey Wilson: Klecker has spent 12 years coaching college football, with the last two at Lindsey Wilson … Serves as the community outreach coordinator at Lindsey Wilson, overseeing numerous efforts for the student-athletes like the “Be The Match” Bone Marrow registry drive that secured 333 new potential donors and participation in “Malvina Farkle Day,” which is a day of service where the football program logged 210 hours of service … Leads the football program in after school programs at the local school district where student-athletes lead at-risk youth in athletic and educational exercises … Participates in “Read Across Adair County” day, promoting reading at local elementary schools … Helped collect over 500 non-perishable food items during the Lindsey Wilson spring game food drive … Spent four years on the AFCA Division III Assistant Coaches Committee … Has developed Lindsey Wilson into one of the best defenses in the Mid-South Conference and mentored the first-ever AFCA All-American in program history in 2017.
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 American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2018 Assistant Coach of the Year winners. One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities. A total of 37 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA were nominated in 2018.
Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee.
The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.
The 2018 honorees are as follows:
FBS– Jeff Faris, Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Duke University
FCS– Milo Austin, Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers/Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Morehead State University
Division II– Marcus Hilliard, Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line, Virginia Union University
Division III– Mickey Rehring, Defensive Coordinator, Johns Hopkins University
NAIA– Phil Kleckler, Defensive Coordinator, Lindsey Wilson College
“Once again, five outstanding assistant coaches have been selected for their dedication, not only to their teams, but to their communities,” said AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry. “Oftentimes, the head coach receives much of the credit for his team’s success, but any head coach is only as good as his assistants. Much of an assistant coach’s work is done behind the scenes. It is our pleasure to bring it to the forefront.”
The criteria for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all taken into account in the selection process.
RELATED ARTICLE: Verne Lundquist To Receive The AFCA’s 2019 Tuss McLaughry Award
Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate their recognition. They will be honored at the AFCA Honors Luncheon, presented by Amway, held Monday, January 7, during the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world, ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to “maintain the highest possible standards in football and the coaching profession” and to “provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching.”
AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Finalists for 2018
Football Bowl Subdivision
Jeff Faris, Duke
Mike Locksley, Alabama
Jeff Scott, Clemson
Football Championship Subdivision
Milo Austin, Morehead State
John Hendrick, Jackson State
Division II
John Cryder, Carson-Newman
Marcus Hilliard, Virginia Union
Mike Long, Wingate
Division III
Kevin Baumann, Franklin & Marshall
Luke Cutkomp, Chicago
Mickey Rehring, Johns Hopkins
NAIA
Phil Kleckler, Lindsey Wilson
Damaso Munoz, Keiser
Andrew Rode, Concordia (Mich.)
Assistant Coach of the Year Notes
109 assistant coaches from 83 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 … Bethel (Minn.) joins Campbellsville, Carson-Newman and Hampton as schools with three winners each … Duke, Johns Hopkins and Lindsey Wilson join Air Force, Benedictine (Kan.), Carroll (Mont.), Central (Iowa), Clemson, Morningside, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State, Tabor, Wabash, Washington (Mo.) and Winona State with two winners each.
The Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Jeff Faris, Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Duke: Faris is in his fifth season as a college coach, all at Duke … Regularly volunteers in the activity room at Duke Children’s Hospital, providing assistance to visitors of the hospital who are taking a break from treatments … Also regularly visits the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and spends time with families who are staying their while their children receive treatment … Was selected in 2017 to participate in the AFCA 30 Under 30 Leadership Institute … Member of the AFCA Professional Development Series Committee which does their work during the annual AFCA Convention … Takes his own vacation time each year to travel to Clinton, Tennessee, and speak at the Clinton Rotary Club … Helped guide former Blue Devil Jamison Crowder to first team All-ACC honors in 2014, T.J. Rahming to honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2017 and tight end Daniel Helm to third team All-ACC honors in 2018.
Football Championship Subdivision
Milo Austin, Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers/Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Morehead State: Austin has spent 11 years coaching college football, with the last four at Morehead State … An active member of the AFCA, Austin serves on the Program Committee and spoke during the Skills and Drills portion of the 2018 AFCA Convention in Charlotte … Has volunteered for Build a Bed project, which makes beds for underserved families in the local community … Founded and ran the Full Focus Foundation, a youth life skills development program … As Director of Player Development at Cincinnati in 2010, Austin guided the “Cats in the Community” initiative and created the Cats Life Skills seminar program … Participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship with the St. Louis Rams in the summer of 2013, and with the Los Angeles Chargers in the summer of 2018 … Was an assistant coach for Team USA in the FISU World Collegiate Games in Harbin, China, in the summer of 2018 … Has coached an All-Conference or All-American performer in each year he has coached.
Division II
Marcus Hilliard, Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line, Virginia Union: Hilliard has been coaching college football for 15 years, and recently completed his first season at Virginia Union … Volunteers with Go Team Impact, which is a special program for children with physical challenges … Vice President of the HOME TEAM Foundation, which is a non-profit organization with the mission to provide a unique environment and experience for youth and children by providing access to high quality sports programs … Volunteered with Miracles of Faith Ministry on the adopt-a-family initiative which provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, clothing and toys for underprivileged families in the Wayne County, North Carolina, area … Active member of the Omega Psi Phi, Delta Iota Chapter, which raises funds for local youth scholarships and sponsors a clothing drive for underprivileged families in Northeastern North Carolina … Member of the AFCA Division II Assistant Coaches Committee since 2012 and the AFCA Minority Issues Committee since 2016 … Guided a Virginia Union defense in 2018 that led the CIAA in points allowed (18.9 ppg), total defense (313.6 ypg) and passing defense (179.7 ypg), team went 8-2 on the season with two shutouts … Has been a part of 10 winning seasons in his 15 years as a coach.
Division III
Mickey Rehring, Defensive Coordinator, Johns Hopkins: Rehring has spent 10 years coaching college football, with the last seven at Johns Hopkins … Has organized the Johns Hopkins “Be The Match” Bone Marrow registry drives over the past four years … Takes the lead in visits with special needs students at Cockeysville and Hereford Middle Schools … Assisted in Johns Hopkins’ partnership with Friends of Jaclyn by “adopting” a boy who is battling malignant brain tumors … Volunteers at Lauren’s First & Goal camp where all proceeds go towards pediatric brain tumor research … Being a Type 1 Diabetic who has a pump and monitors his disease throughout each day, Rehring serves as a role model for some Johns Hopkins student-athletes with similar long-term health challenges … Since taking over as defensive coordinator, Rehring has helped lead Johns Hopkins to a 58-2 regular season record and led the defense to be nationally ranked in several categories … Has coached numerous All-Conference and All-America players.
NAIA
Phil Kleckler, Defensive Coordinator, Lindsey Wilson: Klecker has spent 12 years coaching college football, with the last two at Lindsey Wilson … Serves as the community outreach coordinator at Lindsey Wilson, overseeing numerous efforts for the student-athletes like the “Be The Match” Bone Marrow registry drive that secured 333 new potential donors and participation in “Malvina Farkle Day,” which is a day of service where the football program logged 210 hours of service … Leads the football program in after school programs at the local school district where student-athletes lead at-risk youth in athletic and educational exercises … Participates in “Read Across Adair County” day, promoting reading at local elementary schools … Helped collect over 500 non-perishable food items during the Lindsey Wilson spring game food drive … Spent four years on the AFCA Division III Assistant Coaches Committee … Has developed Lindsey Wilson into one of the best defenses in the Mid-South Conference and mentored the first-ever AFCA All-American in program history in 2017.
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.
