This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the 2021 AFCA NAIA Regional Coaches of the year. These coaches include Lindsey Wilson College Coach Chris Oliver, Southwestern College Coach Brad Griffin and Texas Wesleyan University Coach Joe Prud’homme.

Chris Oliver recently completed his 12th and final season as the head coach of the Blue Raider football program. This past spring Coach Oliver lead his team to an undefeated 11-0 record and took home the first NAIA National Championship in program history. Coach Oliver has been the head coach at Lindsey Wilson since the inception of the football program in 2010. Over the past eight seasons the Blue Raiders have made the playoffs seven times and have won multiple Mid-South Conference division titles under Coach Olivers direction. Prior to Lindsey Wilson, Oliver spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio Dominican.

Brad Griffin will be entering his eighth season at the helm of the Southwestern Moundbuilders in 2022. This past season Coach Griffin led his team to a 9-2 overall record while winning a share of the KCAC Conference regular season title and earning an invite to the NAIA playoffs. During the 2020 season, Griffin led the Moundbuilders to their first national ranking since 1999. Prior to taking the reins at Southwestern, Griffin spent 11 seasons at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa where he served as the Defensive Coordinator while working with the Linebackers.

Joe Prud’homme is entering into his sixth season as head coach of Texas Wesleyan after being tasked with restarting the dormant program in February of 2016. The Rams returned to the gridiron in 2017 after a 76-year hiatus, and in 2018 Prud'homme led the program to its first on-field victory since 1945. The 2021 season saw the Rams complete their first winning season since starting up the program as they went 7-3 during the season. Prior to Texas Wesleyan, Prud’homme compiled an extremely successful coaching career over 27 seasons in the Texas High School ranks. He came to the Rams after 24 seasons at Nolan Catholic High School where he won seven state championships.

• [1:00] Start of Roundtable
• [1:52] Playing two seasons in one calendar year
• [4:27] Getting buy-in from players
• [6:56] Playing complementary football
• [10:27] Past convention experiences
• [15:12] Positively Impacting the lives of young men

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the 2021 AFCA D-III Regional Coaches of the year. These coaches include U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Coach Mike Toop, Trinity University Coach Jerheme Urban, Albion College Coach Dustin Beurer, and Central College Coach Jeff McMartin.

Mike Toop recently completed his 17th and final season as the head coach of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy since he announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season. A former graduate of the USMMAC, Coach Toop led his team to six straight winning seasons in his final years including three bowl wins since 2017. During his tenure at the Academy, Toop received the Power of Inspiration Award, Coach of the Year Award and the Captain James Liebertz Memorial Award. Toops 45 year coaching career included stops at Davidson, UCONN, Penn, Colgate, Union, and Albany.

Jerheme Urban was appointed head coach of the Tigers in November 2013 and has chalked up a record of 41-23 over the last six seasons. He stands at 21-7 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), which Trinity joined prior to the 2017 season. The 2021 season saw the Tigers go 9-1 and reach the Division III playoffs. Coach Urban brought a wealth of National Football League experience back to Trinity, when he joined the staff in 2012. During his nine-year NFL career, the talented wide receiver played for the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals (including the 2008 Super Bowl team), and Kansas City Chiefs.

Dustin Beurer was named the head coach of Albion College in 2018 after completing 10 seasons on the Albion coaching staff. Entering his fouth season in the fall of 2022, Beurer currently holds a 20-4 overall record in addition to two MIAA Conference Titles. Coach Beurer served as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in addition to overseeing the offensive linemen for Albion before becoming the head coach. Prior to Albion, Beurer had a brief stint at Morehead State as the teams tight ends and fullbacks coach.

Jeff McMartin who took over for Central College in 2004, has posted a glossy 140-43 record and is among the winningest active NCAA Division III coaches in career winning percentage. He's a five-time conference coach of the year, was named an AFCA Division III regional coach of the year in 2007 and 2021 and the D3football.com regional coach of the year in 2021. McMartin's squads have posted four undefeated regular seasons, with a 28-game regular-season win streak from 2006-08. Under his leadership, the Dutch have finished in the top three in the league 16 times in 17 years. Prior to Central, McMartin has had coaching stops at DePauw University, Beloit College, the University of Rochester among other schools.

• [1:02] Start of Roundtable
• [1:30] Reflecting on the 2021 season
• [6:26] Being appreciative of your job
• [9:46] Past convention experiences

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the 2021 AFCA D-II Regional Coaches of the year. These coaches include Kutztown University Coach Jim Clements, Bowie State University Coach Damon Wilson, University of Findlay Coach Rob Keys, Angelo State University Coach Jeff Girsch, and Western Colorado University Coach Jas Bains.

Jim Clements recently completed his seventh season as Kutztown University's head coach. Clements has achieved winning seasons in each of his seven seasons at the helm of the Golden Bears, the first KU head coach in program history to open his career with consecutive winning seasons. At Kutztown, he brought KU back to the NCAA Tournament in both 2018 and 2019 for the third and fourth times in school history. In 2019, the Maroon and Gold won their first 10 games to finish the regular season 10-0, before earning a spot in the PSAC Championship game. Clements came to Kutztown after serving as the head coach at Division III Delaware Valley College for eight years where he was a three-time MAC Coach of the Year (2009-11).

Damon Wilson recently finished his 11th year at the helm of the Bowie State University football program. While leading the Bulldogs, Wilson has attained a great amount of success winning seven CIAA Northern Division Titles, three CIAA Conference Titles as well as three Black College Football National Championships. Coach Wilson also led the Bulldogs to their fourth NCAA playoff birth since 2015 where they reached the quarterfinals. Prior to Bowie State, Wilson spent time as an assistant coach at schools including Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern and Bowie State.

Rob Keys recently completed his 11th season at the helm of the Oilers football program in 2021. He has recorded a 75-43 record with the program as a head coach, which includes a 34-26 mark in GLIAC games and a 27-8 mark in G-MAC games. The 2021 fall season saw Findlay win their first G-MAC Conference Title in program history. In 2017 Coach Keys led Findlay to their first ever NCAA playoff appearance and led them to their second appearance in 2021. Prior to becoming head coach, Keys previously served as the co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator for the Oilers from 2000-04.

Jeff Girsch, who has spent more than 20 years as a college football coach, will enter his fourth season as head coach of the Rams, and ninth overall at Angelo State. Taking over the program in 2018, Girsch transformed a .500 win team into a national championship contender in just three seasons. The Rams finished the 2021 campaign with an 11-3 overall record, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II National Championship for only the second time in program history. Before becoming head coach, Girsch was the defensive coordinator for the rams from 2015 until being promoted to head coach. Prior to joining Angelo State University, Girsch had spent 18 years coaching at St. Ambrose University, with his last six as the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach.  He was named the MSFA Assistant Football Coach of the Year in 2008.

Jas Bains enters his 13th season at the helm of the Western Colorado football team in 2022, the longest consecutive tenure in the program's history. This past year Coach Bains led the Mountaineers to one of its best seasons in program history going 10-2 and earning a share of the RMAC Conference Title. The co-championship title was the first since the 1998 season, and their NCAA playoff invite was also a first for Western since they last played in the Division II national tournament in 1997. Prior to Western, Bains spent five seasons as a member of the coaching staff at Chadron State, with the final three as special teams coordinator and defensive secondary coach.

• [1:05] Start of Roundtable
• [1:34] Playing football after the cancelled 2020 season
• [4:35] Spinning adversity into positivity
• [8:38] Playing for one another
• [10:18] Past convention experiences

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the 2021 AFCA FBS Regional Coaches of the year. These coaches include Cincinnati Coach Luke Fickell, Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman, Michigan State Coach Mel Tucker, and UTSA Coach Jeff Traylor.

Luke Fickell recently completed his 5th season as the Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats. Fickell has found much success with the Bearcats where he has led Cincinnati to back-to-back 11-win campaigns in 2018 and 2019 and an undefeated regular season that culminated with a Peach Bowl berth in 2020, before leading the Bearcats to the greatest season in school history in 2021, including an appearance in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl and the first-ever 13-0 regular-season record in school history. Prior to Cincinnati, Fickell coach at the University of Ohio State from 2002-2016 where he served in many different roles including defensive coordinator and head coach.

Sam Pittman recently completed his second season as the Arkansas Head Coach. Pittman has brought the razorbacks immediate success in the SEC while leading the program to its most wins in 6 years. The Oklahoma native has coached at seven different Power 5 schools during his 32 years of coaching, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. With a wealth of experience, Pittman is widely regarded as one of the nation’s best coaches when it comes to developing offensive talent as he has coached seven offensive linemen that were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Mel Tucker, a 25-year coaching veteran recently completed his second season as the Head Coach of Michigan State. In 149 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker’s teams have collected a 108-41 (.725) record, including 10 postseason bowl games. three conference championships, three national championship games and two national championships. Tuckers impressive resume include coaching stops at Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, LSU in addition to multiple NFL teams.

Jeff Traylor recently completed his second season as the Head Coach at UTSA. This past season, Traylor led the roadrunners to a program record 11 regular season wins, won the school’s first C-USA Championship Title and earned a berth to the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl. Traylor has been honored for his success as the 2021 C-USA Coach of the Year, the AFCA FBS Regional Coach of the Year for Region 4. Traylor has more than 30 years of coaching experience including a highly successful 15-year career as head coach at Gilmer High School, where he led teams to three state championships and two state runner-up finishes.

• [1:00] Start of Roundtable
• [1:49] Cincinnati’s historic 2021 season
• [4:45] Using experience to build leadership
• [7:54] Finding guys in the transfer portal that fit your program
• [11:40] Building culture by building relationships
• [14:30] Personal stories from past conventions

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring the 2021 AFCA FCS Regional Coaches of the year. These coaches include North Dakota State Coach Matt Entz, Villanova Coach Mark Ferrante, and Sam Houston State Coach K.C. Keeler.

K.C. Keeler recently completed his eight season as head coach of the Sam Houston State University Bearcats. In his tenure he has directed the Bearkats to a 90-23 record with 14 wins in NCAA postseason action including the 2021 FCS National Championship (Spring). Prior to taking over at SHSU, Keeler spent time as the head coach at Delaware, which is his alma mater, from 2002-2012. His Fightin’ Blue Hens won the FCS national championship in 2003 and reached the national championship game in 2007 and 2010. Before Delaware, Keeler produced an 88-21-1 record at Rowan University (1993-2001).

Mark Ferrante recently completed his fifth season as head coach of Villanova University. As head coach, Ferrante has let the Wildcats to two FCS playoff appearances and a Colonial Athletic Association conference title (2021). Prior to becoming head coach, Ferrante served as an assistant coach with the Wildcats for 30 years. In his 35 years on the Wildcats sideline Ferrante has been a part of 238 victories and all 13 of the program’s FCS playoff appearances.

Matt Entz recently completed his third season as head coach of the North Dakota State Bison. in his sort time as head coach, Entz has continued the Bisons winning ways by winning the FCS National Championship in 2019 and 2021 while compiling an overall record of 20-3. Before taking over as head coach, Entz served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for North Dakota State from 2014-2018. Coach Erntz has also been the recipient of the AFCA FCS Coach of the Year award in 2019 and 2021.

• [1:00] Start of Roundtable
• [1:17] Elements of success
• [5:04] Playing a spring season
• [6:10] Building relationships through the AFCA Convention

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring University of Wyoming head coach, Craig Bohl. Coach Bohl explains the importance of having a clear vision for your program, discusses why you should trust your instincts as a coach, and highlights the benefits of finding players that fit your specific program.

Craig Bohl recently completed his 8th season as the head coach of the University of Wyoming and his 19th season as a head coach at the collegiate level. Coach Bohl has has brought a level of success to the cowboys that has not been seen in quite some time. The 2018 season saw the Cowboys earn bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season, marking the first time a UW team had achieved that since the 1997-99 seasons. In total, Bohl has lead the cowboys to four bowl games going 3-1 in those contests. In 2016 Bohl was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year after leading his team to the Mountain Division title of the Mountain West Conference.

Coach Bohl came to Wyoming after building a national power at North Dakota State as a head coach for 11 seasons from 2003-13.  His teams won three consecutive National Championships at the FCS level in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13. His success with the Bison earned his numerous Coach of the Year awards including the AFCA Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013. Prior to North Dakota State, Bohl spent eight seasons at Nebraska as an assistant coach under Tom Osborne where he was part of the 1995 and 1997 Nebraska National Championship teams.

• [0:50] Start of podcast
• [1:49] Personal coaching journey
• [2:36] Taking over a program
• [5:06] Using location as an advantage
• [12:47] Having a vision
• [16:52] Developing players
• [18:33] Surround yourself with those who are invested
• [22:55] Trusting your instincts
• [27:45] Consistency breeds success
• [30:49] Finding the right guys for your program
• [36:16] Importance of the Walk-on

This week on Inside the Headset we are featuring University of Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman's speech from the 2022 AFCA Convention.

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring University of North Carolina Head Coach, Mack Brown. Coach Brown shares tips on how to be an effective communicator, explains what it takes to win at a high level, and highlights the importance of setting an edge every day within a program.

A 43-year veteran of collegiate coaching, Mack Brown has served as a head coach for 33 seasons with stops at Texas (1998-2013), North Carolina (1988-97, 2019-21), Tulane (1985-87), and Appalachian State (1983). Over his 33 seasons, Brown has posted a record of 259-132-1 (.662). In his first three years back at UNC, Brown has lead the Tar Heels to three bowl appearances including the Orange Bowl. Coach Brown experienced high levels of success while as the head coach at the University of Texas where he won the the BCS National Championship, another BCS National Championship Game appearance and three BCS Bowl wins.

Brown was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in December of 2018. In addition to the College Football Hall of Fame, Brown is also a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Longhorn Hall of Honor, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and the Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame. One of the most respected coaches in the game, Brown has served on numerous national committees, including president of the American Football Coaches Association. He has also served on the AFCA Ethics Committee and the AFCA Public Relations Committee.

• [2:56] Start of podcast
• [5:12] Stepping up as a leader
• [7:48] Communication within a program
• [13:06] Building trust and gaining respect
• [16:49] Finding a common purpose
• [20:13] How to make decisions
• [22:03] How to win
• [25:22] Creating an edge

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Ouachita Baptist Head Coach, Todd Knight. Coach Knight takes us on a deep dive into his program philosophy, highlights the importance of making practice count, and shares his personal relationship working with the AFCA.

After 21 seasons - and 22 years - as head coach at Ouachita, Todd Knight is the longest-standing college head football coach in Arkansas. Knight has established Ouachita as an elite program among all Division II institutions. A proven leader, he guides the Ouachita football program with integrity and passion.  In the 2019 season, Coach Knight took the Tigers to the Division II playoffs after leading them to an undefeated regular season at 11-0.  The 2019 season was Ouachita’s third undefeated regular season and the third straight GAC Championship.   The Tigers hosted a DII playoff game for the third time since 2014. In the conference’s inaugural 2011 campaign, Knight led the Tigers to the Great American Conference championship, Ouachita’s first conference title in over 25 years. The Tigers claimed the conference crown again in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Knight was named GAC Coach of the Year in all five championship seasons. He  was also named Region three Coach of the year in 2014, 2018 and 2019.

Knight boasts five Great American Conference Championships and 132 All-Great American Conference players in just nine years. The Ouachita football program is the only college football program in the state of Arkansas with twelve consecutive winning seasons, cracking the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 in ten of those twelve seasons. Prior to Ouachita Baptist, Knight spent time at Delta State and UTEP. Knight was named to the AFCA Board of Trustees following the conclusion of the 2012 football season, adding to his list of accolades. He has also served on the NCAA Rules Committee.

• [4:25] Start of podcast
• [5:43] Team philosophy
• [12:23] Living out the program standard
• [15:44] On-field philosophy
• [21:57] Making practice count
• [25:54] Start of Q&A
• [26:17] Working with the AFCA
• [28:02] The impact of coaches
• [31:33] Importance of special teams

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Coastal Carolina University Head Coach, Jamey Chadwell. Coach Chadwell discusses what it takes to build a winning team, shares the core values he implements in his program, and highlights the ways he helps his players stay accountable on and off the field.

Jamey Chadwell recently completed his third season as the Head Coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. In just three seasons, Chadwell has built Coastal into one of the best teams in the Sunbelt Conference with back-to-back 10+ win seasons and a conference title in 2020. The 2020 season marked Coastal Carolina’s first-ever undefeated regular season and the first time that the Chanticleers were ranked in either the Associated Press Top 25 Poll or the AFCA Coaches Poll. Due to his success in the 2020 season, Chadwell racked up over 10 coach of the year honors including the AFCA FBS Region 2 Coach of the Year and Sun Belt Football Coach of the Year.

Prior to taking over as the head coach of the Chanticleers, Chadwell served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Coastal Carolina. Chadwell came to Coastal after four seasons as the head coach at Charleston Southern. He was named Big South Coach of the Year three times (2013, 2015, and 2016), led CSU to conference titles in 2015 and 2016, and guided the Buccaneers to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship Playoffs in both of his last two years. Chadwell, a former Buccaneer assistant coach, returned to CSU after head coaching stops at Delta State, going 3-8 in his lone season (2012), and North Greenville, going 22-14 in three seasons (2009-11).

• [2:55] Start of podcast
• [3:32] Program overview
• [6:50] Importance of High School Football
• [9:03] Understanding your “why”
• [10:25] Building a winning program
• [13:34] Coach to player relationship
• [15:11] Creating a strong culture
• [19:40] Core values
• [28:20] Team unity building
• [32:00] Start of Q&A
• [32:31] Managing a diverse group of men
• [39:27] Being accountable off the field
• [45:53] Personal relationship with the AFCA