NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- After leading his squad to the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship, Valdosta State Head Football Coach David Dean was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coach of the Year Tuesday.
Dean led the 2012 Blazers to a 12-2 record and the program's third national championship, including the second under his tenure. After opening the season at 2-2, VSU finished the year with 10 straight wins, including a 35-7 victory over previously unbeaten Winston-Salem State in the championship game in Florence, Ala.
Dean's 2012 Blazer team set several school records, including total rushing yardage (3.065), rushing yards per game (218.9) and rushing touchdowns (40), while falling just 35 points shy of the school record for points in a season (582 in 2012) and 63 shy of the school mark for total yardage (6,571).
Personal accolades rolled in for the Blazers at the conclusion of the season, including a school record 16 being named All-Gulf South Conference. Five Valdosta State players were named to the Super Region 2 All-Region Team, including offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder, who went on to be named an All-American while finishing as the runner-up for the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the nation's top lineman.
Dean upped his career coaching record to 54-17 during the 2012 season, a career winning percentage of .761.
The 2012 AFCA Coach of the Year honor marks the second time Dean has been honored with the award. He also was recognized by the orgnaiztion in 2007, when he became the first coach on any level to earn the honor in his first year as a head coach. The 2007 Blazer team finished the year with a 13-1 record and claimed the program's second national championship, making Dean just the second NCAA Division II head coach to lead his team to a title in his first year as a coach.
Dean also earned AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2010 after leading VSU to an 8-3 record and a share of the school's first Gulf South Conference championship since the 2004 season.
