Release courtesy of the Wayne State University Sports Information Department
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Wayne State
University head football coach Paul
Winters was voted the American Football Coaches
Association Division II Coach of the Year, the organization
announced Tuesday afternoon at the AFCA Convention in San
Antonio.
Click
here for AFCA Release
Winters, who guided the Warriors to a 12-4 record and a national
runner-up finish in 2011, was rewarded with what is regarded as the
oldest and most prestigious Coach of the Year award in college
football, as it is the only award chosen exclusively by the coaches
themselves.
“This is the ultimate accomplishment for me, and getting the
vote from my peers makes it so much more important,” said
Winters. “The credit needs to be completely shared by
our players and coaches, because this entire season was a team
effort.”
One year removed from a nine-win campaign in 2010, Wayne State
went 8-3 during the 2011 regular season and, in its first NCAA
playoff appearance in school history, won four consecutive road
games to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship
game last month.
“This is the culmination of a remarkable season and this
award the acknowledgment of the work and leadership of Paul
Winters," said WSU Director of Athletics Rob
Fournier. "Obviously a lot of people are behind
achieving this recognition but someone must provide the direction
and oversight. Paul is that person and when you consider the time
and effort he has singularly put into turning this program around,
this is a nice public announcement of that work.”
This is the second AFCA award of Winters' career, as he was the
Region Coach of the Year in 2010. Last week Winters was named
co-Coach of the Year in Super Region 3 by the Don Hansen Football
Committee.