December 2, 2009
(release courtesy of Ryan Workman, Coe College sports information director)

WACO, TEXAS . . . Coe Head Football Coach Steve Staker has been named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region Five Coach of the Year.  Staker earned the award after leading the Kohawks to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs and a 10-2 record.

The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the five divisions of college football.  The winners are selected by active members of the association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions. The 2009 Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2010 AFCA Convention in Orlando, Fla. The dinner is scheduled for January 12.  All head coaches who were eligible for regional honors are eligible for national honors as well.

After finishing 4-6 in his first season as head coach, the Kohawks went 10-2 in 2009, while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs.  It was just the third time in program history that a team has recorded 10 wins, including a 34-27 win over fourth-ranked St. John's in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs.

Staker joins Nick Saban (Alabama), Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Mack Brown (Texas), Larry Kehres (Mount Union) and 21 others as 2009 recipients of the award.

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