FARGO, N.D. – The Louisiana Christian University football program raked in another trio of accolades late Thursday evening as Drew Maddox was named VSN NAIA Coach of the Year while Pop McGhee and Sal Palermo III received Second and Third Team recognition, respectively.

Maddox, the back-to-back Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and AFCA NAIA Region 5 Coach of the Year, guided his alma mater to its first conference championship and NAIA Football Championship Series in program history while cracking the NAIA Top 25 for the first time as well, entering its First Round matchup at Baker (Kansas) slotted at #21. Since his arrival, LCU has knocked off four top-25 opponents including #15 Texas Wesleyan this season in the SAC Championship Game and has gone a perfect 2-0 vs. Border Claw rivals East Texas Baptist to retain the coveted trophy along with producing three All-Americans and winning 15-of-19 (78.9%) of contests played inside Wildcat Field, currently holding a 13-game winning streak at home heading into 2024.

McGhee, a junior from Opelousas, Louisiana, was the national leader in pass breakups, knocking away 16 potential catches in the 11-game season while being one of three Wildcats with multiple interceptions including Jahiem Mitchell and SAC Championship Game hero Nate Sullivan. The 6-foot 2 Graphic Design major totaled 22 tackles (19 solo) and three tackles for loss as well, entering the 2024 campaign sitting on 29 passes defensed in addition to six interceptions for his 24-contest career.

Palermo III, the Sooner Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year and a graduate student quarterback from Walker, Louisiana, was a three-time Conference Offensive Player of the Week as he sported a top-15 passer efficiency rating of 151.9 while landing among the top-40 players nationally in terms of passing touchdowns (22), yards (2,104), and completion percentage (58.9%) in addition to being a mobile dual threat with eight scores on the ground.

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