FootballScoop is proud to announce that EJ Peterson (Grand View) the 2024 FootballScoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year, presented by AstroTurf as selected by prior winners.
Let's begin at the end. Grand View concluded a dominant run to the NAIA national championship by dethroning defending national champ Keiser with a 35-7 triumph on Dec. 21, claiming the school's national title. Grand View's championship was objectively one of the best seasons in NAIA history: not only did the Vikings go 14-0, they defeated the last three NAIA champions en route to the crown.
Along the way, the Vikings led NAIA by allowing a scant 8.4 points per game. Four opponents failed to score a point, including 2022 national champion Northwestern College in the NAIA quarterfinals. Nine of Grand View's 14 opponents were held into the single digits, including five consecutive in October and November.
Grand View also led the nation in total defense, while ranking second in rushing defense and fourth in passing defense. All told, opponents mustered 219.9 yards per game -- 73 on the ground and 146.9 through the air.
In the Vikings run through the playoffs, they limited Friends (Kan.), a top-20 offense, to 17 points and 273 yards in the opening round. In the quarterfinals, Northwestern, who averaged 28 points and 355 yards per game, was held to 218 yards and was blanked on the scoreboard.
In the semifinals, Morningside -- who ranked second in the nation in yards and averaged more than 43 points an outing -- gained just 266 yards and logged a season-low 13 points. Then, in the title game, defending champion Keiser was held to its lowest scoring output since facing an FCS team in September 2022.
Linebacker John Argo was named an AFCA First Team All-American, while defensive end Jackson Filer and defensive back Daviere Jones were Second Team selections. Argo was named the Heart of America Conference's defensive player of the year, and he, Filer and Jones were joined on the All-HOA First Team by linebacker Cade Sheedy, defensive lineman Aaron Brown, and defensive back Prince Brown. Defensive back Krishawn Butler was a Second Team All-HOA honoree, and defensive back Skylar James earned honorable mention.
A Grand View graduate, Peterson was a conference player of the year in 2010 and entered his alma mater's hall of fame in 2021. After playing in the Arena Football League for the nearby Iowa Barnstormers, Peterson entered coaching as the linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at McPherson College in 2012. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2014 and returned to his alma mater in the same role in 2018.
Following head coach Joe Woodley's departure to Drake, Grand View elevated Peterson to head coach on Sunday.
"As a Hall of Fame player, a highly accomplished Assistant Coach, and one of the most successful Defensive Coordinators in NAIA football history, E.J. has consistently demonstrated excellence both on and off the field," said AD Troy Plummer. "His deep connection to Grand View, unmatched work ethic, and proven leadership make him the ideal candidate to guide our program into an exciting new chapter. Peterson has earned this opportunity, having wholly dedicated himself to the success and tradition of Vikings football."
The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards presented by AstroTurf are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. The finalists (Fran Johnson [Texas Wesleyan], Eric Kelly [Friends], Austin Taylor [Indiana Wesleyan] and Peterson) were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors, and athletic department personnel. The prior winners selected this year's winner.
Previous winners of the NAIA Coordinator of the Year award are Joe Woodley (Grand View [Iowa], 2013), Ken Fasnacht (Southern Oregon, 2014), Scott Power (Marian [Ind.], 2015), Joey Didier and Eric Wagoner (Saint Francis [Ind.], 2016), Patrick Donley and Trevor Miller (Saint Francis [Ind.], 2017), Lucas Lueders (Morningside [Iowa], 2018), Casey Jacobsen and Nathan Turner (Morningside [Iowa], 2019), Phil Kleckler (Lindsey Wilson [Ky.], 2020), Andrew Rode (Morningside [Iowa], 2021), Billy Kirch (Northwestern [Iowa]), 2022), and Robbie Owens (Keiser [Fla.], 2023).
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