PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (January 26, 2015) – Rawlings Football today announced Colorado State University-Pueblo Head Football Coach John Wristen as the 2014 Division II Coach of the Year. The award was given in association with the American Football Monthly, the leading resource for coaches everywhere.
In just seven seasons, Wristen turned a defunct football program into NCAA Division II National Champions. With a program record 14-1 season in 2014, Wristen guided the ThunderWolves to the national championship game where they defeated then-No. 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato, 13-0.
This is the second time Wristen has received the honor from the American Football Monthly, as he was named coach of the year in 2011. On Jan. 13, 2015, Wristen was named the 2014 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year.
In December, Wristen was selected as CaptainU College Coach of the Year [Press Release] and Don Hansen Super Region Four Coach of the Year [Press Release].
He was named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2011.
Hired in 2007 with the daunting task of re-starting the football program from scratch, Wristen has accumulated a 68-16 (.810) overall and 51-12 (.810) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record since the first season in 2008.
A four-time RMAC Coach of the Year honoree (2011-14), Wristen guided the ThunderWolves to their fourth straight RMAC Championship in 2014, as the Pack posted an 8-1 record to share the title with Colorado School of Mines. The ThunderWolves earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region Four this season to post their fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Playoffs. The Pack have also finished the regular season in the AFCA's top 10 in each of the last four years.
Prior to CSU-Pueblo, Wristen spent 17 years in the NCAA Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Colorado, Northwestern and UCLA. Wristen's career in Division I football started in 1990 as a graduate assistant at CU (1990 National Champions), working with the quarterbacks and running backs.
As the starting quarterback at then-University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo), Wristen (1980-83) was an honorable mention All-American quarterback, guiding USC to its only NAIA National Playoff appearance in 1983. He graduated as USC's all-time leader in passing yards (3,283) and touchdown passes (26). In 1982, Wristen led the NAIA in passing efficiency with a 182.5 rating as a junior.
The last football season occurred in 1984 before Wristen returned to Pueblo to begin the process of building a national championship caliber program.
The other college winners include:
FBS – Urban Meyer, Ohio State – Meyer guided the Buckeyes to a 14-1 record and the national championship, defeating Oregon in the title game, 42-20. Ohio State won their last three games – victories over Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon – with their third string quarterback, Cardale Jones.
FCS – Chris Kleiman, North Dakota State – Kleiman guided NDSU to their fourth straight FCS title, defeating Illinois State in the championship game. It was Kleiman's first year as head coach and he led the Bison to a 15-1 record.
Division III – Lance Leipold, Wisconsin-Whitewater – Under Leipold, UW-W won six Division III championships in his 8 years as head coach. UW-W defeated Mount Union, 43-34, in December's title game. Leipold recently accepted the head coaching position at the University of Buffalo.
NAIA – Craig Howard, Southern Oregon – Under Howard, Southern Oregon completed a 13-2 record with a 55-31 win over Marion University in the NAIA Championship game. It was the Raiders first NAIA title.
JUCO – Brad Smiley, Trinity Valley Community College – TVCC averaged 58.5 points per game in completing an undefeated – 12-0 – season. In the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, Trinity Valley defeated Coffeyville CC, 27-24.
About Rawlings
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American Football Monthly has been the leading educational resource for coaches for over 20 years. From coaching strategy and Xs and Os to innovative offenses, defenses, and special teams schemes, AFM provides the latest information for coaches. AFM's website, www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com contains the largest coaching library in the world.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
