CHICAGO – North Dakota State head football coach Matt Entz is among the 17 finalists for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the national coach of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.
Entz led the Bison to their second outright Missouri Valley Football Conference championship in three seasons as head coach with a 10-1 overall record and 7-1 in the conference. NDSU earned the No. 2 overall seed for the NCAA playoffs and will make its 12th consecutive postseason appearance.
After serving as NDSU’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for five years, Entz was elevated to head coach in 2019 and guided the Bison to a national championship and the first 16-0 season in college football since 1894. He was the 2019 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year and runner-up for the Eddie Robinson Award.
Entz has a 33-4 record in three seasons at NDSU, including a 20-3 mark in conference games.
This is the 11th time an NDSU head coach has been a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award. Craig Bohl was a back-to-back winner in 2012 and 2013 and runner-up in 2006 and 2007.
Two former NDSU assistant coaches are among the 2021 finalists – first-year FCS head coach Glenn Caruso of St. Thomas in the Pioneer Football League, and first-year head coach Brent Vigen from Montana State in the Big Sky Conference.
Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State and first presented in 1987, the Robinson Award is celebrating its 35th anniversary season. A 50-member, national media panel will select the winner, who will be announced on Dec. 14.
2021 Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award Finalists
Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State (Big South)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-0; Notable: Outright Big South champ is unbeaten against non-FBS teams
Colby Carthel, Stephen F. Austin (AQ7)
Team Record: 8-3, 4-2; Notable: Lumberjacks have earned first playoff bid since 2014
Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas (Pioneer)
Team Record: 7-3, 6-2; Notable: After move up from Division III, Tommies tied for third-best PFL record
Bob Chesney, Holy Cross (Patriot)
Team Record: 9-2, 6-0; Notable: Crusaders beat FBS program UConn, pushed league win streak to 11
Matt Entz, North Dakota State (MVFC)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-1; Notable: Outright MVFC champ has earned the No. 2 seed in playoffs
Mark Ferrante, Villanova (CAA)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: CAA co-champ earned automatic playoff bid with win at James Madison
K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston (AQ7)
Team Record: 10-0, 6-0; Notable: 2016 Robinson Award recipient has led reigning FCS champ to No. 1 playoff seed
Chris Merritt, Bryant (Northeast)
Team Record: 7-4, 5-2; Notable: Bulldogs knocked off NEC champ Sacred Heart in best season since 2014
Eric Morris, Incarnate Word (Southland)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: Cardinals captured first outright Southland title and automatic playoff bid
Bobby Petrino, Missouri State (MVFC)
Team Record: 8-3, 6-2; Notable: Bears finished second in an MVFC that has six playoff teams
Oliver “Buddy” Pough, South Carolina State (MEAC)
Team Record: 6-5, 5-0; Notable: After MEAC sweep, Bulldogs to play in Celebration Bowl for first time
Deion Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)
Team Record: 10-1, 8-0; Notable: Tigers to play in SWAC championship game for first time since 2013
Randy Sanders, East Tennessee State (Southern)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-1; Notable: Outright SoCon champ earned No. 7 playoff seed
Jason Simpson, Tennessee-Martin (OVC)
Team Record: 9-2, 5-1; Notable: Outright OVC champ posted program-record nine-game win streak
Troy Taylor, Sacramento State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 9-2, 8-0; Notable: 2019 Robinson Award recipient has led Hornets to Big Sky title, No. 4 playoff seed
Buddy Teevens, Dartmouth (Ivy)
Team Record: 9-1, 6-1; Notable: Ivy co-champ has gone at least 8-2 in six of last seven seasons
Brent Vigen, Montana State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: First-time head coach has led Bobcats to No. 7 playoff seed
*Ryan Perreault, NDSU Athletics
