McElwain Named 2015 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
Monday, December 7, 2015 | Football
University of Florida head football coach Jim McElwain has been named the 2015 AFCA FBS Region Two Coach of the year, the American Football Coaches Association announced on Monday morning.
In earning his second AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honor, Coach McElwain has guided the Florida Gators to a 10-3 record and their first SEC East Division Title since 2009. The former head coach at Colorado State took over the program in January after the Gators had finished 11-13 the past two years and led the Gators back into the national spotlight behind a superb defensive unit.
Coach McElwain won the same award last year at Colorado State after leading the Rams to a 10-2 record and a bowl appearance. The Gators head coach joins six other coaches who have won the award in two consecutive years at two different schools.
2015 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: Dabo Swinney, Clemson University
Region 2: Jim McElwain, University of Florida
Region 3: Kirk Ferentz, University of Iowa
Region 4: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State University
Region 5: David Shaw, Stanford University
About the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Award
The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year award. Prior to 1960, the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain had sponsored the program, which recognized one national Coach of the Year.
The AFCA first recognized eight district winners in each of two divisions:?university and college. In 1972, a ninth district was added in each division. In 1983, the award was changed to recognize regional winners instead of district winners, and the number of divisions was increased from two to four, and five regional winners were selected in each division. This resulted in a more equitable selection process and better represented the make-up of the membership. At the same time, the new system increased the number of honorees from 18 to 20. In 2006, the AFCA?Division II?Award was split into separate Division II?and NAIA divisions, giving us the 25 winners we now recognize.
