WACO, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University football program's fourth-year leader, Head Coach Drew Maddox, has now won his second award of the 2023 offseason as he was announced as the AFCA's (American Football Coaches Association) NAIA Region 5 Coach of the Year.
Maddox, the back-to-back Sooner Athletic Conference 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.
In 2023 alone, the Wildcats won a program record nine games and a record-high .818 winning percentage that consisted of a state-best 13 consecutive victories spanning October 8, 2022 to October 21, 2023.
Also holding the title of Defensive Line Coach, the Orange and Blue playmakers upfront wreaked havoc on opposing O-Linemen with the 6th-most sacks (37) and 18th-most fumble recoveries (12) in the NAIA to lead the SAC in each, accumulating 137.5 tackles for loss as well as 32 quarterback hurries in addition to overseeing four All-Conference selections including SAC Defensive Player of the Year Logan Brimmer.
Since the football team was revived for the 2000 campaign, he ranks second among all coaches at Louisiana College / Christian with a 57.9% winning percentage, 22 wins (22-16), and four seasons coached, trailing only Dennis Dunn in each category (11 Seasons, 65-45 Record, 59.1 Win%).
He is one of only five coaches in the NAIA to be recognized along with Keiser's Doug Socha, Saint Xavier's Mike Feminis, Evangel's Chuck Hepola, and Northwestern (Iowa)'s Matt McCarty on top of being one of 14 first-time winners which sport big names such as Mike Norvell from Florida State, Eliah Drinkwitz from Missouri, David Braun from Northwestern, Jerry Kill from New Mexico State, and Kalen DeBoer from Washington.
The AFCA's NAIA Coach of the Year award will be announced on Tuesday, January 9 at the AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
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