MSU's Ash Honored by AFCA
Montana State Rob Ash was named the Region 5 Co-Coach of the Year for the Football Championship Subdivision by the American Football Coaches Association on Monday, Dec. 3.
Ash, now in his sixth season at Montana State, shared the honor with Sam Houston State coach Willie Fritz. Fritz and Ash will square off in an FCS Quarterfinal playoff game on Saturday.
Ash guided Montana State to a 10-1 regular season, the first 10-win regular season in school history. He was named the 2010 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, and the 2011 Liberty Mutual FCS Coach of the Year.
New Hampshire’s Sean McDonnell was named the Region 1 Coach of the Year. Bethune Cookman’s Brian Jenkins and Stony Brook’s Chuck Priore shared the Region 2 honor. Eastern Illinois’ Dino Babers was the Region 3 honoree, and Indiana State’s Trent Miles was the Region 4 honoree.
Ash became Montana State’s all-time leader in victories this season, surpassing the legendary Sonny Holland. Ash has an overall record of 50-21 with the Bobcats. He has guided his team to three straight co-Big Sky Conference titles. Montana State is 21-3 the last three seasons in Big Sky play, the top mark of any league squad.
Ash has been a head coach for 33 seasons. Ash has an overall coaching record of 226-120-5 in his 33rd season as a head coach. Ash spent 18 seasons as the head coach at Drake. He was also the head coach Juniata for nine seasons.
The 2012 Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the AFCA?Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2013 AFCA?Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8.
Ash is a past president of the AFCA.