Whether you like comeback stories or you appreciate the efforts of a coach who kept his team on the straight and narrow all season, there are many ways to look at the Coach of the Year fan vote. We give you several strong candidates below. The question is, which of these stellar coach do FCS fans think had the best 2017? Give it a vote below:
Voting closes Friday at noon, Pacific.
[divider]COMPARE: Any Two FCS Players | Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
Will Healy
Austin Peay
Why?: The Governors had lost 29 games in a row and hadn't had a winning season in more than a decade, but this year went 8-4 and lost to only one FCS team (Jacksonville State).
[divider]
Al Bagnoli
Columbia
Why?: The former Penn coaching legend once collected Ivy League trophies with the Quakers like it was no big deal, but Columbia was a bigger challenge. In three short years, he led the Tigers to an 8-win season — something not done in 21 years — and second place Ivy League.
[divider]
Brian Bohannon
Kennesaw State
Why?: The Owls' program is only three years old, but 'Coach Bo' and his program hardly let that be a roadblock as the team won the Big South Conference and finished 13-2, reaching the FCS quarterfinals. In Kennesaw State's first three seasons, they're 27-10 under Bohannon.
[divider]
Rod Broadway
North Carolina A&T
Why?: Coach Broadway led the Aggies to the first perfect MEAC season in conference history, leading them to a 12-0 record — the school's first undefeated record since the 1940s. This past weekend, the Aggies won their 7th all-time HBCU National Championship by capturing the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
[divider]
Curt Cignetti
Elon
Why?: Last year, Elon was 2-9 and tied with Rhode Island for last in the CAA. This year the Phoenix finished 8-4 and qualified for the FCS Playoffs for the first time in school history.
[divider]
Mike Houston
James Madison
Why?: The Dukes are back in the national championship game for the second year in a row, even with the big target placed on their backs. This program has lost only one game in two seasons under Houston, and this year is 14-0 going into the FCS title game.
[divider]
Chris Klieman
North Dakota State
Why?: The Bison are right back where they're used to being — the FCS National Title game in Frisco. They did it with a disciplined approach, good defense and an offense that can quick-strike an opponent when needed. The Bison are 13-1.
[divider]
Jody Sears
Sacramento State
Why?: Last year, Sacramento State was 2-9 but bounced back to go 7-4 with an incredible blowout victory over the team that eventually clinched the Big Sky Championship in Southern Utah. The Hornets were just a win away from being in the FCS playoffs.
[divider]
K.C. Keeler
Sam Houston State
Why?: The Bearkats made it to the FCS semifinals, beating two impressive opponents in South Dakota and Kennesaw State to get there. Sam Houston State wrapped up its season by finishing 12-2.
[divider]
John Stiegelmeier
South Dakota State
Why?: 'Coach Stig' consistently produces great teams and had another great team this year, the lone team in the regular season to knock off North Dakota State. The Jackrabbits finished 11-3 this year.
[divider]
Jay Hill
Weber State
Why?: Weber State made national FCS headlines with the way it played James Madison in the quarterfinals, and were two minutes away from upending the defending national champions on their own field. The tough-as-nails Wildcats finished 11-3 and gained quite the reputation nationwide.
[divider]
Tony Reno
Yale
Why?: Last year, the Bulldogs finished 3-7 and weren't a part of the Ivy League title discussion. This year Yale, with a strong youth movement, finished 9-1 and won its first outright Ivy League title since 1980.
[divider]
FAN CHOICE: FCS Coach of the Year (2017)
