AFCA Selects Jim Tressel, Jack Harbaugh, Brian Kelly and Larry Kehres as its 2002 National Coach of The Year Winners – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 7, 2003
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NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The American Football Coaches Association capped its 2003 convention by presenting its top coaching award – AFCA Coach of the Year – to four outstanding coaches today.
Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, Western Kentucky’s Jack Harbaugh, Grand Valley State’s Brian Kelly and Mount Union’s Larry Kehres are the 2002 AFCA National Coach of the Year winners. Tressel in Division I-A, Harbaugh in Division I-AA, Kelly in AFCADivision II (NCAA Division II and all NAIA schools) and Kehres in AFCA Division III.
The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members (coaches at four-year schools) in the Association’s four divisions. The AFCAhas named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by the coaches themselves.
Jim Tressel led the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record, a share of the Big 10 Conference title and the school’s first national championship since 1968 this season. He is the first coach in AFCA history to win National Coach of the Year honors at two different schools (Ohio State and Youngstown State [1991-94]). Tressel has a career record of 156-62-2 (.714) in 17 seasons at Ohio State and Youngstown State. He has a two-year record of 21-5 (.808) at Ohio State. Jack Harbaugh led the Hilltoppers to a 12-3 record and the NCAA Division I-AA championship this season to win AFCA National Coach of the Year honors for the first time. Western Kentucky won 10 consecutive games following a 2-3 start to win the school’s first national title. Harbaugh has a 19-year career record of 116-95-3 (.549) at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky and a 14-year mark of 91-68 (.572) at WKU.
Brian Kelly led Grand Valley State to a 14-0 record, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and the school’s first NCAA Division II championship this season to win AFCANational Coach of the Year honors for the first time. The championship game appearance was the second in a row for Grand Valley State. Kelly has a 12-year career record of 104-34-2 (.750) at Grand Valley State. His winning percentage ranks No. 1 alltime in school history. He has led the Lakers to five conference titles and five playoff appearances.
Larry Kehres led Mount Union to a 14-0 record, an 11th consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference championship and a seventh NCAA Division III national championship to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year honors for a record seventh time in his career. Mount Union is 109-1 in the last 11 regular seasons and is 162-7-1 (.956) since 1990. Kehres has a career record of 192-17-3 (.912) in 17 seasons at Mount Union. He won his first six National Coach of the Year Awards in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001.
All four winners will be honored Tuesday evening at the AFCA Coach of the Year Banquet at the New Orleans Marriott.
AFCA Coach of the Year Bios
Division I-A
Jim Tressel, Ohio State University
Third AFCA National Coach of the Year Award … Led the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record, a share of the Big 10 Conference title and the school’s first national championship since 1968 this season … Has become the first coach in AFCA history to win National Coach of the Year honors at two different schools (Ohio State and Youngstown State) … Has a career record of 156-62-2 (.714) in 17 seasons at Ohio State and Youngstown State … Has a two-year record of 21-5 (.808) at Ohio State … Is part of the only father-son Coach of the Year tandem (Father, Lee, earned AFCA honors at Baldwin-Wallace in 1978) … Earned AFCA Division I-AA National Coach of the Year honors in 1994 when he led Youngstown State to a 14-0-1 record and the NCAA Division I-AA national championship … Earned his first AFCA National Coach of the Year Award in 1991 when he guided the Penguins to a 12-3 record and a national championship … Also won national championships at Youngstown State in 1993 and 1997.
Division I-AA
Jack Harbaugh, Western Kentucky University
First AFCA National Coach of the Year Award … Led the Hilltoppers to a 12-3 record and the NCAA Division I-AA championship this season … Western Kentucky won 10 consecutive games following a 2-3 start to win the school’s first national title … Has a 19-year career record of 116-95-3 (.549) at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky and a 14-year mark of 90-68 (.570) at WKU … Has led WKU to four playoff appearances in the last six seasons … Earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2000 when Western Kentucky finished 11-2, won the Ohio Valley Conference title and qualified for the NCAA I-AA playoffs … Earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1997 when he led Western Kentucky to a 10-2 record and a berth in the NCAA I-AA playoffs.
AFCA Division II
Brian Kelly, Grand Valley State University
First AFCA National Coach of the Year Award … Led Grand Valley State to a 14-0 record, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and the school’s first NCAA Division II championship this season … The championship game appearance was the second in a row for GVSU … Has a 12-year career record of 104-34-2 (.750) at Grand Valley State … His winning percentage ranks No. 1 all-time in school history … Has led the Lakers to five conference titles and five playoff appearances in his tenure at GVSU … Grand Valley State has finished third place or better in the conference in 11 of his 12 years at the school … Earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2001 when he led the Lakers to a 13-1 record, the GLIAC title and a berth in the NCAA Division II championship game … Earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1998 when Grand Valley State finished 9-3, won the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference title and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
AFCA Division III
Larry Kehres, Mount Union College
Seventh AFCA National Coach of the Year Award … First coach to win seven National Coach of the Year Awards … Also equaled Penn State’s Joe Paterno record 10 Regional Coach of the Year awards this year … Led Mount Union to a 14-0 record, an 11th straight Ohio Athletic Conference championship and a seventh NCAA Division III championship this season … Mount Union set an NCAAalldivision record with 54 consecutive wins from 1996-1999 … The OAC title is also the school’s 12th in 13 years and 13th overall under Kehres … Mount Union is 109-1 in the last 11 regular seasons and is 162-7-1 (.956) since 1990 … Career record is 192-17-3 (.912) in 17 seasons at Mount Union … Won his record sixth AFCA National Coach of the Year award and his ninth AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Award in 2001 when he led Mount Union to the national championship … Won AFCA Regional and National Coach of the Year honors in 2000 when he led the Purple Raiders to a perfect 14-0 record and their fifth national championship …Won AFCA National Coach of the Year honors in 1998 when he led Mount Union to a 14-0 record and its fourth national championship … Won AFCA Regional and National Coach of the Year honors in 1996 and 1997 when he led the Purple Raiders to perfect 14-0 records and their second and third Division III championships … Won his first AFCA National Coach of the Year award in 1993 when he led the Raiders to their first national title.
