Head Football Coach Bobby Wilder Named AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year
Tennessee Tech football Head Coach Bobby Wilder was named AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year, as announced by the organization today.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech football Head Coach Bobby Wilder was named AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year, as announced by the organization today.
Head Coach Bobby Wilder turned a program that won four games two seasons ago, seven games last season, to a program-record 11-game winner this year to clinch the first outright OVC-Big South Title since 1975. Wilder rejuvenated a roster and changed the mentality of the program in just two seasons. The Golden Eagles set program records in points scored (482), touchdowns (65), rushing touchdowns (32), total offense (5,119 yards), second in sacks (45), and fewest total rushing yards allowed (913).
The Golden Eagles scored the most points in a single game in modern program history (72 vs. Davidson) and finished 8-0 in conference play for the first time in program history. Also, started the season 10-0 and posted the longest winning streak (15 games) in Tennessee Tech football history.
American Football Coaches Association's 2025 Regional Coach of the Year winners for FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. These winners will be honored on Monday, January 12, during the 2026 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. The winners are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.
2025 AFCA Regional FCS Coach of the Year Winners
Region 1: Kevin Cahill, Lehigh
Region 2: Bobby Wilder, Tennessee Tech
Region 3: Joel Taylor, West Georgia
Region 4: Steve Englehart, Presbyterian
Region 5: Bobby Hauck, Montana
AFCA National Coach of the Year: The AFCA will announce the 2025 National Coaches of the Year winners in FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA on Monday, December 15. The Regional winners in each division are finalists for National Coach of the Year.
Award History: The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year award. Prior to 1960, the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain had sponsored the program, which recognized one national Coach of the Year.
The AFCA first recognized eight district winners in each of two divisions: university and college. In 1972, a ninth district was added in each division. In 1983, the award was changed to recognize regional winners instead of district winners. The number of divisions was also increased from two to four and five regional winners were selected in each division. This resulted in a more equitable selection process and better represented the make-up of the membership. At the same time, the new system increased the number of honorees from 18 to 20. In 2006, the AFCA Division II Award was split into separate Division II and NAIA divisions, giving us the 25 winners we now recognize.
First Time Winners: Eighteen coaches earned their first AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Award in 2025: Georgia Tech's Brent Key, Texas Tech's Joey McGuire, Hawaii's Timmy Chang, Lehigh's Kevin Cahill, Tennessee Tech's Bobby Wilder, West Georgia's Joel Taylor, Presbyterian's Steve Englehart, West Florida's Kaleb Nobles, Northwest Missouri State's John McMenamin, Central Washington's Chris Fisk, Chadron State's Jay Long, Coast Guard's C.C. Grant, Johns Hopkins Dan Wodicka, North Central's Brad Spencer, Bethel's (Minn.) Mike McElroy, Benedictine's (Kan.) Joel Osborn, Dordt's Joel Penner and Montana Tech's Kyle Samson.
