West Virginia football coach Dana Holgorsen has been named the American Football Coaches Association’s District 4 Regional Coach of the Year as announced today by the organization.

 

The 2016 FBS and FCS Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the inaugural American Football Coaches Awards, televised live on CBS Sports Network, on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 9 p.m.

 

The regional winners will be the finalists for the AFCA National Coach of the Year. Other FBS coaches named as regional coaches of the year are Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo (District 1), Alabama’s Nick Saban (District 2), Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck (District 3) and Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre (District 5). The winners were selected by active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions. 

 

Holgorsen guided the Mountaineers to a 10-2 mark in 2016, their best season since becoming a member of the Big 12 Conference in 2012.

 

His 2016 team achieved the ninth 10-win season in school history, including being one of six WVU teams to achieve it during the regular season. Holgorsen is one of three WVU coaches, along with Don Nehlen and Rich Rodriguez, to post multiple 10-win seasons. The seven Big 12 wins also are the most in a season, tying for second place in the standings, WVU’s highest finish.

 

WVU posted a 4-1 road record this season and he has a 12-2 home mark over the past two years. His 46 wins at West Virginia place him fourth on the school’s all-time win list, and he has led the Mountaineers to bowl games in five of the past six years, including three straight.

 

West Virginia has been ranked in both major polls for most of the 2016 season, spending time in the Top 10, and currently sitting at No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 12 in the Amway Coaches’ Poll.

 

In the national rankings, WVU’s offense is currently ranked No. 12 in total offense, No. 13 in first down offense, No. 18 in rushing offense, No. 24 in passing yards per completion, No. 29 in pass efficiency and No. 30 in pass offense. Defensively, WVU is No. 10 in turnovers gained, No. 19 in fumbles recovered, No. 23 in passes intercepted, No. 31 in turnover margin, No. 32 in pass efficiency defense and No. 36 in scoring defense.

 

WVU placed 10 players on the Big 12 All-Academic teams and 16 of his 21 seniors will already have their degrees when they play in the bowl game.

 

The Mountaineers will be making their 35^th bowl appearance in school history. WVU will face Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN. For tickets, fans can visit WVUGAME.com or call 1-800-WVU GAME.