Mike MacIntyre Named 2016 AFCA FBS Coach of the Year

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Colorado's Mike MacIntyre was voted 2016 AFCA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Coach of the Year, announced Tuesday night by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) during the inaugural American Football Coaches Awards show televised live on CBS Sports Network.

MacIntyre was selected by a vote of the Active I AFCA FBS members. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.

Additionally, MacIntyre was presented with the AFCA Comeback Coach of the Year award during the telecast. The AFCA Comeback Coach of the Year award is presented to a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach who faced significant obstacles or adversity during the past season, but led his team to great success despite that adversity – for example, losing a key player or players to injury, but still having a successful season; a head coach coming back from illness; dealing with a difficult situation at his university; or bouncing back from a bad season.

This year's finalists for Comeback Coach of the Year, who were voted on by FBS head coaches, were Chris Creighton from Eastern Michigan, Mike MacIntyre from Colorado and Paul Petrino from Idaho.

MacIntyre accomplished a great feat at Colorado in 2016. After the Buffaloes finished last in the Pac-12 South division during his first three years, this season ended up being the greatest turnarounds in Pac-12 history. After an abysmal 1-8 conference mark in 2015, MacIntyre led the Buffs to a 10-4 overall record and 8-1 mark in league play, the Pac-12 South division title and an appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl in 2016. The 10 wins this season are the most for Colorado in 15 years.

MacIntyre began his coaching career in 1990 as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia. After his two years at Georgia, he worked as an assistant coach, spending one year at Davidson, four years at Tennessee-Martin and two years at Temple. In 1999, he joined David Cutcliffe's staff at the University of Mississippi. While with the Rebels, he coached on both sides of the ball, helping them to several bowl appearances.

In 2003, MacIntyre jumped to the pros, spending four seasons under Bill Parcells coaching the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs. His fifth and final season in the NFL was spent with the New York Jets.

MacIntyre returned to the college ranks in 2008, where he reunited with Cutcliffe at Duke. He spent two years as the defensive coordinator for the Blue Devils where his defenses were among the best statistically for Duke in over 20 years. In recognition of his accomplishments, the AFCA awarded him the 2009 AFCA FBS Assistant Coach of the Year award.

MacIntyre earned his first head coaching job at San Jose State University in 2010. He spent his first season aggressively recruiting and restructuring the culture of the football program. His hard work was evidenced in the results; the Spartans went from 1-12 his first season, to 10-2 and tied for first place in the Western Athletic Conference in his third season. After leading San Jose State to its first 10-win season in 25 years, Colorado came calling.

2016 Finalists for AFCA FBS National Coach of the Year
P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan; Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia; Mike MacIntyre, Colorado; Ken Niumatalolo, Navy; Nick Saban, Alabama

About the American Football Coaches Awards
The American Football Coaches Awards, featuring the AFCA National Coach of the Year, is currently being televised live on CBS Sports Network. This marks the first time the AFCA is televising its annual awards. The live one-hour program is airing from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and coincides with the AFCA's annual convention. The host for the show, Eddie George, is a former Tennessee Titan running back and 1995 Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State. Follow @WeAreAFCA or visit AFCA.com for more information.

Award History

Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf, then of Northwestern, was named as the first AFCA Coach of the Year in 1935. One national winner was selected from 1935 through 1959. From 1960 through 1982, two national winners were selected — one representing the University Division and one from the College Division. From 1983-2005, four national winners were chosen. In 2006, the AFCA?started honoring an NAIA?Coach of the Year, bringing the total to the five honorees we have today. Prior to 2006, the NAIA?was a part of the AFCA's Division II membership category.

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