WACO, Texas — For the second time in his head coaching career, North Dakota’s Bubba Schweigert was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association as one of the organization’s Regional Coaches of the Year.
Schweigert collected the Football Championship Subdivision Region 5 accolade after leading the Fighting Hawks to a 9-3 overall record and share of the Big Sky regular season title with a perfect 8-0 mark in league games.
North Dakota shared the Big Sky Conference title this season/ contributed
UND also made its first appearance in the FCS playoffs and earned a bye in the first round with the No. 7 overall seed. In his first three seasons at UND, Schweigert has led the team to two-win improvements each year from the previous season.
Schweigert’s first AFCA honor came during his tenure at Minnesota-Duluth when he won the Division II Region 5 honors in 2005. He led the Bulldogs to the program’s first North Central Conference title that season.
2016 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: Ken Niumatalolo, U.S. Naval Academy
Region 2: Nick Saban, University of Alabama
Region 3: P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan University
Region 4: Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia University
Region 5: Mike MacIntyre, University of Colorado
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Mike Houston, James Madison University*
Region 2: Rod Broadway, North Carolina A&T University & Jerry Mack, North Carolina Central University (tie)
Region 3: John Grass, Jacksonville State University*
Region 4: John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State University
Region 5: Bubba Schweigert, University of North Dakota
Division II
Region 1: Gary Dunn, California University of Pennsylvania
Region 2: Bobby Wallace, University of North Alabama
Region 3: Adam Dorrel, Northwest Missouri State University
Region 4: Ronnie Huckeba, Harding University
Region 5: Jed Stugart, University of Sioux Falls
Division III
Region 1: Bob Rankl, Alfred University
Region 2: Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins University
Region 3: Pete Fredenburg, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Region 4: Jeff Thorne, North Central College
Region 5: Tyler Staker, Coe College
NAIA
Region 1: Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College & Drew Cronic, Reinhardt University* (tie)
Region 2: Kevin Donley, University of Saint Francis (Ind.)*
Region 3: Mike Grossner, Baker University*
Region 4: Steve Ryan, Morningside College*
Region 5: Chuck Morrell, Montana Tech
*-2015 winner
AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce the 2016 FBS and FCS National Coaches of the Year winners at the inaugural American Football Coaches Awards, televised on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, January 10 at 9 p.m. EST, during the 2017 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The Division II, Division III and NAIA National Coaches of the Year will be announced at the AFCA Victory Luncheon, also on Tuesday, January 10. The Regional winners in each division will be the finalists for National Coach of the Year.
This press release courtesy of UND athletics. All Rights Reserved.
