AFCA ANNOUNCES 2023 ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
December 15, 2023
The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2023 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 98 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA were nominated in 2023.
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 2023 honorees are as follows:
FBS – Phil Parker, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, University of Iowa
FCS – Christian Taylor, Offensive Coordinator, William & Mary
Division II – Edward Pointer, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Virginia Union University
Division III – Ben Gibboney, Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers, Carnegie Mellon University
NAIA – Justin Robinson, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, Marian University
“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 criterion 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 considered in the selection process.
Assistant Coach of the Year Notes
132 assistant coaches from 99 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 … Iowa and Virginia Union join Benedictine (Kan.), Morningside, Bethel (Minn.), Campbellsville, Carson-Newman and Hampton as schools with three winners each … Air Force, Carroll (Mont.), Central (Iowa), Clemson, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Kansas Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson, Marian, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State, Tabor, Wabash, Washington (Mo.) and Winona State all have two winners each.
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, held Monday, January 8, during the 2024 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Phil Parker, Iowa: Parker has served as the defensive backs coach at the University of Iowa for 14 seasons and is in his 12th season as defensive coordinator, the longest tenured coach at that position in the nation … Long time AFCA member and annual convention attendee … Parker participated in the UI Dance Marathon, a student-organized event hosted annually that has raised millions of dollars for the Stead Family Children’s Hospital … Iowa’s defense under Parker is ranked 13th nationally in red-zone defense, sixth in passing efficiency defense, eighth in scoring defense, 22nd in passing yards allowed and 23rd in total defense … Since the 2009 season, the Hawkeyes have had 226 interceptions making them tied with Alabama for the most nationally in that span … Iowa has had a defender register a pick six in each of the last 16 consecutive seasons, that streak is the second longest active streak in the country.
Football Championship Subdivision
Christian Taylor, William & Mary: Taylor began his career with William & Mary, first as a quarterback, followed by being the tight ends coach in 2008 and quarterbacks coach in 2009 … Returned to William & Mary in 2020 … He has served on the AFCA FCS Assistant Coaches committee for the last two years … Taylor and his wife, Shay, are active contributors for New Haven Youth and Family Services … During his career, Taylor has two FCS semifinal playoff appearances, one FCS quarterfinal appearance, seven conference titles, and a Sugar Bowl championship … Has coached 10 All-Americans, four Walter Payton Award Finalists, and 24 All-Conference players with a First-Team All-Conference player every year during his coaching career.
Division II
Edward Pointer, Virginia Union: Pointer played linebacker for Virginia Union from 1994-97, then coached linebackers for VUU for the next six years … In 2018, Pointer returned for his third coaching stint with Virginia Union, where he has remained the last 6 years … He has served on the AFCA Technical Manual Committee since 2012 … He is the treasurer of HOME TEAM Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization with access to high quality sports programs … Under Pointer in 2023, VUU’s defense ranked third in the nation in total defense and No. 1 against the run … He has coached 24 All-CIAA players and two NFL players … His defense helped lead the way for Virginia Union to claim the 2023 CIAA Conference title, making that his fifth time to coach in a CIAA conference championship game (2000, ‘01, ‘03, ‘06, and 23).
Division III
Ben Gibboney, Carnegie Mellon: GIbboney began coaching for Carnegie Mellon in 2015 as the defensive backs coach and was moved up to defensive coordinator in 2020 … He is a new member of the AFCA and attended his first convention last January … Gibboney coordinated CMU’s “Be The Match/Get In The Game” Bone Marrow Foundation drive, which registered 119 donors … His defense has helped Carnegie Mellon win the President’s Athletic Conference title in 2021 and 2022 … In 2023, CMU ended with a 10-1 overall record and their defense being ranked in the top 10 nationally for total defense … Gibboney’s defense ranked No. 3 in the nation for fourth down conversions allowed, only allowing five out of 28 attempts.
NAIA
Justin Robinson, Marian University: Robinson is in his first year with Marian, serving as their defensive coordinator and defensive line coach … He is a member of the AFCA and has served on the Skills and Drills Committee … Robinson is very passionate about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and plans to get more involved with the community … In his first season, Robinson’s defense helped Marian to a 9-2 overall record … The Marian defense was ranked No. 12 in the NAIA in 2023 … Throughout his career, Robinson has developed nine All-Conference defensive linemen.
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 2023 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 98 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA were nominated in 2023.
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 2023 honorees are as follows:
FBS – Phil Parker, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, University of Iowa
FCS – Christian Taylor, Offensive Coordinator, William & Mary
Division II – Edward Pointer, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Virginia Union University
Division III – Ben Gibboney, Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers, Carnegie Mellon University
NAIA – Justin Robinson, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, Marian University
“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 criterion 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 considered in the selection process.
Assistant Coach of the Year Notes
132 assistant coaches from 99 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 … Iowa and Virginia Union join Benedictine (Kan.), Morningside, Bethel (Minn.), Campbellsville, Carson-Newman and Hampton as schools with three winners each … Air Force, Carroll (Mont.), Central (Iowa), Clemson, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Kansas Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson, Marian, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State, Tabor, Wabash, Washington (Mo.) and Winona State all have two winners each.
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, held Monday, January 8, during the 2024 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Phil Parker, Iowa: Parker has served as the defensive backs coach at the University of Iowa for 14 seasons and is in his 12th season as defensive coordinator, the longest tenured coach at that position in the nation … Long time AFCA member and annual convention attendee … Parker participated in the UI Dance Marathon, a student-organized event hosted annually that has raised millions of dollars for the Stead Family Children’s Hospital … Iowa’s defense under Parker is ranked 13th nationally in red-zone defense, sixth in passing efficiency defense, eighth in scoring defense, 22nd in passing yards allowed and 23rd in total defense … Since the 2009 season, the Hawkeyes have had 226 interceptions making them tied with Alabama for the most nationally in that span … Iowa has had a defender register a pick six in each of the last 16 consecutive seasons, that streak is the second longest active streak in the country.
Football Championship Subdivision
Christian Taylor, William & Mary: Taylor began his career with William & Mary, first as a quarterback, followed by being the tight ends coach in 2008 and quarterbacks coach in 2009 … Returned to William & Mary in 2020 … He has served on the AFCA FCS Assistant Coaches committee for the last two years … Taylor and his wife, Shay, are active contributors for New Haven Youth and Family Services … During his career, Taylor has two FCS semifinal playoff appearances, one FCS quarterfinal appearance, seven conference titles, and a Sugar Bowl championship … Has coached 10 All-Americans, four Walter Payton Award Finalists, and 24 All-Conference players with a First-Team All-Conference player every year during his coaching career.
Division II
Edward Pointer, Virginia Union: Pointer played linebacker for Virginia Union from 1994-97, then coached linebackers for VUU for the next six years … In 2018, Pointer returned for his third coaching stint with Virginia Union, where he has remained the last 6 years … He has served on the AFCA Technical Manual Committee since 2012 … He is the treasurer of HOME TEAM Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization with access to high quality sports programs … Under Pointer in 2023, VUU’s defense ranked third in the nation in total defense and No. 1 against the run … He has coached 24 All-CIAA players and two NFL players … His defense helped lead the way for Virginia Union to claim the 2023 CIAA Conference title, making that his fifth time to coach in a CIAA conference championship game (2000, ‘01, ‘03, ‘06, and 23).
Division III
Ben Gibboney, Carnegie Mellon: GIbboney began coaching for Carnegie Mellon in 2015 as the defensive backs coach and was moved up to defensive coordinator in 2020 … He is a new member of the AFCA and attended his first convention last January … Gibboney coordinated CMU’s “Be The Match/Get In The Game” Bone Marrow Foundation drive, which registered 119 donors … His defense has helped Carnegie Mellon win the President’s Athletic Conference title in 2021 and 2022 … In 2023, CMU ended with a 10-1 overall record and their defense being ranked in the top 10 nationally for total defense … Gibboney’s defense ranked No. 3 in the nation for fourth down conversions allowed, only allowing five out of 28 attempts.
NAIA
Justin Robinson, Marian University: Robinson is in his first year with Marian, serving as their defensive coordinator and defensive line coach … He is a member of the AFCA and has served on the Skills and Drills Committee … Robinson is very passionate about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and plans to get more involved with the community … In his first season, Robinson’s defense helped Marian to a 9-2 overall record … The Marian defense was ranked No. 12 in the NAIA in 2023 … Throughout his career, Robinson has developed nine All-Conference defensive linemen.
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.
