Presbyterian’s Spangler Named AFCA Regional Football Coach of Year

WACO, TEX. - Presbyterian College head football coach Tommy Spangler has been named the American Football Coaches Association's 2005 AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year announced today.

The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's four divisions: I-A, I-AA, Division II (NCAA Division II and NAIA schools) and Division III. The winners are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.

"What makes this award so special is that this is the only coach of the year award voted on exclusively by the coaches themselves," AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff said. "The winners are selected by the coaches they compete with and against on a daily basis."

Spangler earns the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year award for the first time in his career after leading the Blue Hose to a 10-2 record, the South Atlantic Conference championship with a 7-0 mark, a No. 1 regional ranking and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs this season. In addition, the team finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in the AFCA Division II Top 25 poll. Spangler has compiled a five-year career record of 35-30 (.538) at Presbyterian College. The Blue Hose reached the 10-win mark for the first time since 1979 this season. PC has finished in the top three in the SAC in five of the last seven seasons.

The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The 2005 Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2006 AFCA Convention in Dallas. The dinner is scheduled for January 10. Winning AFCA National Coach of the Year will earn all four coaches a trip to Hawaii to coach in the Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic. The National Coach of the Year winners in Divisions I-AA, II and III will be invited to serve as assistant coaches at the 2006 game on January 21 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The I-A winner will be invited to serve as a head coach for one of the teams in the 2007 Hula Bowl.

2005 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Division II (NCAA Division II and NAIA schools)
Region 1: Danny Hale, Bloomsburg University
Region 2: Tommy Spangler, Presbyterian College
Region 3: Craig Schurig, Washburn University
Region 4: Steve Ryan, Morningside College
Region 5: Kyle Schweigert, University of Minnesota-Duluth