AFCA Announces 2019 35 Under 35 Participants

The AFCA is pleased to announce the selections for its 2019 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year’s class was chosen from a field of hundreds of applicants. In order to be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1984, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time or head coach. Applicants were required to submit a resume, five references, and a 1,600-word article or five-minute live instructional video on an Offensive, Defensive, Special Teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant’s choosing.

The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the 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.

Members of the AFCA 2019 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute receive a stipend to assist with expenses incurred while attending the AFCA Convention, provided by the NCAA Leadership Development and the American Football Coaches Foundation.. They will be published in the bi-monthly AFCA Magazine, AFCA Insider weekly email blast, and/or have their articles added to the AFCA Educational Library; placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee; and become a part of the great network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.

The AFCA 2019 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will take place on Sunday, January 6, at the AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Congratulations to the 2019 Class!

Name: Ola Adams
School: Villanova University
Position: Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks
Twitter: @CoachOlaAdams

Name: Shawn Bell
School: Baylor University
Position: Offensive Line
Twitter: @CoachShawnBell

Name: Tyler Bowen
School: Penn State University
Position: Tight Ends
Twitter: @TylerBowen

Name: Bryan Brown
School: Appalachian State University
Position: Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks
Twitter: @CoachB_BROWN

Name: Shane Fidler
School: Waccamaw HS (SC)
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @CoachFidler

Name: Joe Jon Finley
School: University of Missouri
Position: Tight Ends
Twitter: @JOE_JON_FINLEY

Name: Erik Frazier
School: Western Illinois University
Position: Wide Receivers
Twitter: @CoachEFraz

Name: Kory Gribbin
School: University of Akron
Position: Tight Ends/H-Backs/Assistant Special Teams Coordinator
Twitter: @ZipsCoachGrib

Name: Gino Guidugli
School: University of Cincinnati
Position: Quarterbacks
Twitter: @GinoGuidugli

Name: Chris Hampton
School: Tulane University
Position: Defensive Backs
Twitter: @Coach_CHampton

Name: Todd Hartley
School: University of Miami
Position: Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Twitter: @coach_thartley

Name: Nick Hill
School: Southern Illinois University
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @17NickHill

Name: Justin Hood
School: Western Carolina University
Position: Outside Linebackers
Twitter: @CoachHood3

Name: Tyler Hopperton
School: Mount St. Joseph University
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @CoachHopperton

Name: Collin Klein
School: Kansas State University
Position: Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Twitter: @ckleincat7

Name: Jordan Langs
School: Indiana Wesleyan University
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @Coach_Langs

Name: Kelly Ledwith
School: Santa Monica College
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @34CoachLed

Name: Brennan Marion
School: College of William & Mary
Position: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Twitter: @BrennanMarion4

Name: Taylor Mazzone
School: University of Arizona
Position: Outside Receivers
Twitter: @TaylorMazzone1

Name: Eman Naghavi
School: University of Louisiana-Monroe
Position: Offensive Line
Twitter: @Emannaghavi

Name: Bryan Nardo
School: Emporia State University
Position: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Twitter: @CoachNardo27

Name: Jake Olsen
School: Northwestern State University
Position: Safeties/Recruiting Coordinator
Twitter: @CoachJakeOlsen

Name: Tim Plough
School: University of California-Davis
Position: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Twitter: @VintagePlough

Name: Justin Rascati
School: Formerly at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Position: Former Offensive Coordinator
Twitter: @CoachRascati

Name: Doug Samuels
School: Ravenna HS (MI)
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @CoachSamz

Name: Nate Scheelhaase
School: Iowa State University
Position: Running Backs
Twitter: @CoachNateISU

Name: Joshua Schumacher
School: Concordia University-Ann Arbor
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @CoachSchu44

Name: Kyle Segler
School: University of Louisiana-Monroe
Position: Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Twitter: @Coach_Selger

Name: Austin Silvoy
School: Middle Tennessee State University
Position: Wide Receivers
Twitter: @CoachSilvoy

Name: De’Rail Sims
School: James Madison University
Position: Running Backs
Twitter: @DeRailSims

Name: Josh Stepp
School: Georgia State University
Position: Tight Ends
Twitter: @coach_stepp

Name: Patrick Toney
School: University of Louisiana
Position: Safeties
Twitter: @PToney

Name: Scotty Walden
School: University of Southern Mississippi
Position: Wide Receivers
Twitter: @USMCoachSW

Name: Demario Warren
School: Southern Utah University
Position: Head Coach
Twitter: @DemarioWarren

Name: Jake Waters
School: University of Texas-El Paso
Position: Inside Wide Receivers
Twitter: @CoachJWaters