MAJOR DIVISION COACH OF THE YEAR
Pete Adrian, Norfolk State Spartans
A veteran in collegiate football and in the HBCU ranks, led the Spartans to their first MEAC football championship and NCAA FCS playoff bid via the conference automatic bid,(A first round lost to Old Dominion, 35-18) finishing the season with a 9-3 record, 7-1 in conference play, the wins are the most for the Norfolk State Spartans football program in its Division I history beginning 1997, a No. 5 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking and Pete is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award annually to the top Division I Football Championship Subdivision coach in the nation by The Sports Network
MID-MAJOR DIVISION COACH OF THE YEAR
Connell Maynor, Winston-Salem State Rams
Coach Connel Maynor led the Rams to a unanimous No. 1 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Mid-Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking, CIAA football championship and NCAA Division II Semifinal finish, successfully transitioning the program from provisional NCAA Division I status to Division II status, over that period the last two years, Coach Maynor is 21-3, including two NCAA Division I FCS wins
INDEPENDENT PROGRAM DIVISION COACH OF THE YEAR
Shepherd Skanes, Concordia-Selma
Leading Concordia-Selma, Coach Shepherd Skanes, started the football program from scratch, had its second best record, 6-4 since a 7-3 mark in 2005, and No. 7 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Mid-Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking against arguable the toughest BCF schedule (Four ranked teams between Major and Mid-Major Division, two conference champions Miles (No. 6 Mid-Major) and Grambling State (No. 3; Major Division), which also included three NCAA FCS Division I programs, Grambling State, Jackson State (No. 4; Major Division) and Alcorn State, with a win over in state rival Stillman (No. 8; Mid-Major Division)
MAJOR DIVISION PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Alabama State Hornets
Coach Reggie Barlow led the Hornets to an 8-3 record, No. 1 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking, finish with two top five wins (2-0), wins over Grambling State (No. 3; Major Division), Jackson State (No. 4; Major Division) and three top 10 wins (3-1), a share of the SWAC Eastern Division title, finished second in the conference in scoring offense, 26.7 (5th HBCU Major Division Competition, 28.5*) points per game and scoring defense, 17.5 (5th HBCU Major Division Competition, 17.4*) points per game *Minimum of three HBCU Major Division games
MID-MAJOR DIVISION PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Winston-Salem State Rams
A perfect season against HBCU football competition, 9-0, unanimous No. 1 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Mid-Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking; while a chance at an undefeated season and a NCAA Division II Championship came to an end for the Winston-Salem State University Rams as they were defeated by Wayne State University Warriors, 21-14 in the NCAA Division II Semifinals in front of the home come crowd at Bowman Gray Stadium, the Rams became the sixth HBCU program since the beginning of Division II playoffs in 1978 and first since an expanded field to make it to the NCAA Division II Semifinal with a 13-1 (Most wins ever by a HBCU football program), 7-0 in conference play to end the season
INDEPENDENT CO-PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Concordia-Selma Hornets & Langston Lions
The Concordia-Selma Hornets completed the season with a 4-1 record against HBCU Mid-Major competition and 2-0 against HBCU Mid-Major Independent programs, leading to a No. 7 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Mid- Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking, win over in state rival Stillman (No. 8; Mid-Major Division), while the Langston Lions completed the season with a 3-0 record against HBCU Mid-Major and Major Division competition, including a win over NCAA FCS Division I Arkansas-Pine Bluff (No. 10; Major Division), Tuskegee (Mid-Major) and 1-0 against HBCU Mid-Major Independent programs, leading to a No. 5 ranking in Dr. Cavil’s (HBCU) Black College Mid-Major Division Football Final Top 10 ranking
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