AFCA ANNOUNCES 2025 ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
December 9, 2025
The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2025 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 71 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA were nominated in 2025.
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 2025 honorees are as follows:
FBS–Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Indiana University
FCS–Keith Clark, Offensive Line, Dartmouth College
Division II–Tyler Almond, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Carson-Newman University
Division III–Eric Jones, Offensive Line, Central College
NAIA–Peter Davila, Defensive Coordinator, Keiser University
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
142 assistant coaches from 105 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 … With Tyler Almond’s selection in 2025, Carson-Newman becomes the only program with four AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year honorees … Central (Iowa) joins Benedictine (Kan.), Bethel (Minn.), Campbellsville, Hampton, Iowa, Morningside, and Virginia Union as schools with three winners each … Army, Air Force, Carroll (Mont.), Clemson, Dartmouth, 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 on Sunday, January 11, during the 2026 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Bryant Haines, Indiana: A 2024 Broyles Award finalist, Haines is in his second season as Indiana’s defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and his 17th year as a college coach … After building one of the nation’s premier defenses at James Madison, Haines immediately elevated Indiana’s unit, which in 2024 led the nation in rushing defense (80.2), finished No. 2 in total defense (256.34), and No. 10 in passing yards allowed (176.1) on the way to a College Football Playoff berth … currently in 2025, Haines’ defense is No. 4 in FBS in total defense allowing just 251.8 yards per game and is No. 2 in scoring defense at 10.92 points per game allowed … His defense set program records for lowest scoring average (15.6), fewest rushing yards (1,043) and fewest total yards (3,332) in a season … He coached three All-Americans, including first-team All-American and All-Big Ten linebacker Aiden Fisher, All-American defensive back D’Angelo Ponds, and All-Big Ten defensive lineman Mikail Kamara … At JMU, Haines coordinated top 10 national defenses in both FCS and FBS, twice led the nation in rushing defense, and coached eight All-Americans, three Buck Buchanan Award finalists, and multiple record-setting pass rush units.
Football Championship Subdivision
Keith Clark, Dartmouth: A 40-year college coaching veteran, Clark has anchored Dartmouth’s offensive line for 17 seasons, producing 45 All-IVY selections … His fronts have consistently ranked among the Ivy League’s best in both run game production and pass protection, including multiple seasons allowing one sack or fewer per game … In 2025, Clark’s offensive line ranked No. 5 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed at a .8 average … Clark’s o-lines powered Dartmouth to Ivy League titles in 2015, 2019 and 2021 while leading the league or ranking in the top 25 nationally in rushing offense, pass efficiency and fewest sacks allowed … A long-time AFCA member, Clark has served on the AFCA Luncheon Committee and was a former chair of the FCS Assistant Coaches Committee … He remains heavily involved in community outreach, participating in reading programs and mentoring initiatives for youth, such as serving as a Cub Scouts leader and a youth football and baseball coach.
Division II
Tyler Almond, Carson-Newman: In just his second season as Carson-Newman’s defensive coordinator, Almond has turned the Eagles into one of Division II’s top units after arriving in 2024 as linebackers coach and now working with the safeties … In 2025, his defense finished third in the South Atlantic Conference and No. 17 in Division II in total defense (296.7 ypg) first in the SAC and No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense (14.5 ppg) … His first defense ranked third in the SAC and top 20 nationally in total defense (269.5 ypg) and scoring defense (20.1), helping Carson-Newman to a division title and playoff appearance … Almond coached All-America safety Major Williams, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, and multiple all-conference defenders in 2024 … A former defensive analyst at East Carolina and Georgia Tech and a 2020 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute member, Almond has spent 18 years coaching at the college and high school levels … He coordinated FCS top 20 defenses at Dixie State and developed multiple All-Americans at Sacramento State … He remains active in community engagement, supporting literacy events, school outreach, and team service initiatives in East Tennessee.
Division III
Eric Jones, Central (Iowa): A 28-year Central College staff member and 1987 graduate, Jones has led the Dutch offensive line since 2011 and helped produce one of Division III’s most consistently productive offenses … Central ranked No. 1 in the American Rivers Conference in total offense, scoring, red-zone efficiency and third-down conversions in 2024, and finished 2025 No. 2 in the ARC in scoring offense (32.1 ppg), second in total offense (396.5 ypg) and third in rushing offense (179.8 ypg) … Jones has coached 36 all-conference performers in his position group, including multiple All-Region selections and an All-American, while helping Central reach 10 NCAA playoff appearances and win 10 conference titles during his tenure … A long-time AFCA member, Jones is also Central’s Athletics Recruitment and Retention Coordinator after serving in admissions, student life, and academic affairs … His community involvement includes decades of work in youth programs, church service, and campus-wide volunteer initiatives, making him a key figure in both the football program’s success and the college’s broader mission.
NAIA
Peter Davila, Keiser: In his second year as Keiser’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Davila has helped guide the Seahawks to a 11-0 record and a semifinal appearance in the NAIA playoffs with a defense that leads The Sun Conference in scoring defense (15.8 ppg), passing defense (151.6 ypg) and is second in total defense (295.1) … His 2024 defense allowed just 21.5 points per game, produced a shutout victory, and held opponents under 300 yards four times … Davila coached two AP All-Americans—Justin Carcel and Bam Brima—and mentored Cliff Harris Award winner and Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tai Lologo, leading a unit with seven all-conference selections … A 15-year coaching veteran, Davila coached at UAlbany, California (Pa.), James Madison, Otterbein and Capital before moving to Keiser in 2024 … A long-time AFCA member and volunteer with several AFCA committees, Davila serves as an ambassador for the BMF Foundation, which helps coaching families in crisis, and is a board member of MyOwnHomeProject, which assists foster children who age out of the system with assistance in finding jobs and homes.
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.
« « Previous PostNext Post » »
The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2025 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 71 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA were nominated in 2025.
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 2025 honorees are as follows:
FBS–Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Indiana University
FCS–Keith Clark, Offensive Line, Dartmouth College
Division II–Tyler Almond, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Carson-Newman University
Division III–Eric Jones, Offensive Line, Central College
NAIA–Peter Davila, Defensive Coordinator, Keiser University
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
142 assistant coaches from 105 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 … With Tyler Almond’s selection in 2025, Carson-Newman becomes the only program with four AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year honorees … Central (Iowa) joins Benedictine (Kan.), Bethel (Minn.), Campbellsville, Hampton, Iowa, Morningside, and Virginia Union as schools with three winners each … Army, Air Force, Carroll (Mont.), Clemson, Dartmouth, 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 on Sunday, January 11, during the 2026 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Bryant Haines, Indiana: A 2024 Broyles Award finalist, Haines is in his second season as Indiana’s defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and his 17th year as a college coach … After building one of the nation’s premier defenses at James Madison, Haines immediately elevated Indiana’s unit, which in 2024 led the nation in rushing defense (80.2), finished No. 2 in total defense (256.34), and No. 10 in passing yards allowed (176.1) on the way to a College Football Playoff berth … currently in 2025, Haines’ defense is No. 4 in FBS in total defense allowing just 251.8 yards per game and is No. 2 in scoring defense at 10.92 points per game allowed … His defense set program records for lowest scoring average (15.6), fewest rushing yards (1,043) and fewest total yards (3,332) in a season … He coached three All-Americans, including first-team All-American and All-Big Ten linebacker Aiden Fisher, All-American defensive back D’Angelo Ponds, and All-Big Ten defensive lineman Mikail Kamara … At JMU, Haines coordinated top 10 national defenses in both FCS and FBS, twice led the nation in rushing defense, and coached eight All-Americans, three Buck Buchanan Award finalists, and multiple record-setting pass rush units.
Football Championship Subdivision
Keith Clark, Dartmouth: A 40-year college coaching veteran, Clark has anchored Dartmouth’s offensive line for 17 seasons, producing 45 All-IVY selections … His fronts have consistently ranked among the Ivy League’s best in both run game production and pass protection, including multiple seasons allowing one sack or fewer per game … In 2025, Clark’s offensive line ranked No. 5 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed at a .8 average … Clark’s o-lines powered Dartmouth to Ivy League titles in 2015, 2019 and 2021 while leading the league or ranking in the top 25 nationally in rushing offense, pass efficiency and fewest sacks allowed … A long-time AFCA member, Clark has served on the AFCA Luncheon Committee and was a former chair of the FCS Assistant Coaches Committee … He remains heavily involved in community outreach, participating in reading programs and mentoring initiatives for youth, such as serving as a Cub Scouts leader and a youth football and baseball coach.
Division II
Tyler Almond, Carson-Newman: In just his second season as Carson-Newman’s defensive coordinator, Almond has turned the Eagles into one of Division II’s top units after arriving in 2024 as linebackers coach and now working with the safeties … In 2025, his defense finished third in the South Atlantic Conference and No. 17 in Division II in total defense (296.7 ypg) first in the SAC and No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense (14.5 ppg) … His first defense ranked third in the SAC and top 20 nationally in total defense (269.5 ypg) and scoring defense (20.1), helping Carson-Newman to a division title and playoff appearance … Almond coached All-America safety Major Williams, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, and multiple all-conference defenders in 2024 … A former defensive analyst at East Carolina and Georgia Tech and a 2020 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute member, Almond has spent 18 years coaching at the college and high school levels … He coordinated FCS top 20 defenses at Dixie State and developed multiple All-Americans at Sacramento State … He remains active in community engagement, supporting literacy events, school outreach, and team service initiatives in East Tennessee.
Division III
Eric Jones, Central (Iowa): A 28-year Central College staff member and 1987 graduate, Jones has led the Dutch offensive line since 2011 and helped produce one of Division III’s most consistently productive offenses … Central ranked No. 1 in the American Rivers Conference in total offense, scoring, red-zone efficiency and third-down conversions in 2024, and finished 2025 No. 2 in the ARC in scoring offense (32.1 ppg), second in total offense (396.5 ypg) and third in rushing offense (179.8 ypg) … Jones has coached 36 all-conference performers in his position group, including multiple All-Region selections and an All-American, while helping Central reach 10 NCAA playoff appearances and win 10 conference titles during his tenure … A long-time AFCA member, Jones is also Central’s Athletics Recruitment and Retention Coordinator after serving in admissions, student life, and academic affairs … His community involvement includes decades of work in youth programs, church service, and campus-wide volunteer initiatives, making him a key figure in both the football program’s success and the college’s broader mission.
NAIA
Peter Davila, Keiser: In his second year as Keiser’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Davila has helped guide the Seahawks to a 11-0 record and a semifinal appearance in the NAIA playoffs with a defense that leads The Sun Conference in scoring defense (15.8 ppg), passing defense (151.6 ypg) and is second in total defense (295.1) … His 2024 defense allowed just 21.5 points per game, produced a shutout victory, and held opponents under 300 yards four times … Davila coached two AP All-Americans—Justin Carcel and Bam Brima—and mentored Cliff Harris Award winner and Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tai Lologo, leading a unit with seven all-conference selections … A 15-year coaching veteran, Davila coached at UAlbany, California (Pa.), James Madison, Otterbein and Capital before moving to Keiser in 2024 … A long-time AFCA member and volunteer with several AFCA committees, Davila serves as an ambassador for the BMF Foundation, which helps coaching families in crisis, and is a board member of MyOwnHomeProject, which assists foster children who age out of the system with assistance in finding jobs and homes.
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.
