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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Houston Wins 2016 Bobby Ross Coach of the Year Award
1/25/2017 9:00:00 PM | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison Head Coach Mike Houston was named the 2016 Bobby Ross Coach of the Year, honoring the top Division I football coach in the state by the Touchdown Club of Richmond, on Wednesday night at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump.
It was the seventh time a JMU coach has won the award, which was formerly known as the Richmond Touchdown Club Coach of the Year. Houston was the school's first winner since Mickey Matthews in 2006.
In his inaugural season at the helm, Houston led the Dukes to their second national championship with a 14-1 overall record, which was a program record for wins in a season. JMU won its second straight Colonial Athletic Association championship with a perfect 8-0 record. It was the program's second outright conference crown since joining the CAA.
During the historic championship season, JMU set CAA records for scoring (700), rushing offense (4,125), total offense (7,612) and first downs (380). Nationally, JMU led the FCS in winning percentage (93.3%), completion percentage (70.8%), team pass efficiency (181.69), first downs (380), interceptions had (21) and punt return average (26.65).
He coached 14 players to All-CAA honors, seven of whom were eventually named All-Americans. The All-America list from JMU included senior running back Khalid Abdullah, senior receiver/returner Rashard Davis, redshirt junior safety Raven Greene, redshirt senior offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch, redshirt senior cornerback Taylor Reynolds, junior quarterback Bryan Schor and redshirt junior offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie.
Houston was voted CAA Coach of the Year, marking the fifth time in six years he won his conference's top coaching accolade. Three days following JMU's win in 2016 NCAA Division I National Championship game, Houston was named the American Football Coaches Association FCS Coach of the Year.
Houston with Byron Thweatt (left), Bob Trott (left center) and Jeff Hanson (right).
It was the seventh time a JMU coach has won the award, which was formerly known as the Richmond Touchdown Club Coach of the Year. Houston was the school's first winner since Mickey Matthews in 2006.
In his inaugural season at the helm, Houston led the Dukes to their second national championship with a 14-1 overall record, which was a program record for wins in a season. JMU won its second straight Colonial Athletic Association championship with a perfect 8-0 record. It was the program's second outright conference crown since joining the CAA.
During the historic championship season, JMU set CAA records for scoring (700), rushing offense (4,125), total offense (7,612) and first downs (380). Nationally, JMU led the FCS in winning percentage (93.3%), completion percentage (70.8%), team pass efficiency (181.69), first downs (380), interceptions had (21) and punt return average (26.65).
He coached 14 players to All-CAA honors, seven of whom were eventually named All-Americans. The All-America list from JMU included senior running back Khalid Abdullah, senior receiver/returner Rashard Davis, redshirt junior safety Raven Greene, redshirt senior offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch, redshirt senior cornerback Taylor Reynolds, junior quarterback Bryan Schor and redshirt junior offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie.
Houston was voted CAA Coach of the Year, marking the fifth time in six years he won his conference's top coaching accolade. Three days following JMU's win in 2016 NCAA Division I National Championship game, Houston was named the American Football Coaches Association FCS Coach of the Year.
Houston with Byron Thweatt (left), Bob Trott (left center) and Jeff Hanson (right).
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