FootballScoop is proud to announce that Robbie Owens (Keiser) the 2023 FootballScoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year, presented by AstroTurf as selected by prior winners.
The Kieser Seahawks rode their defense to the school's first national championship in 2023.
Owens's defense limited 10 of 14 opponents to less than 100 rushing yards, including just 51 yards allowed in their 31-21 defeat of Northwestern in the NAIA national title game.
For the season, Kieser limited opponents to just 288.5 yards per game, including only 91 per game on the ground, and 18.5 points per game.
The Seahawks were great because they were prolific at turning teams over. Kieser swiped 15 interceptions and recovered 24 fumbles on the season, turning three of those 39 takeaways into touchdowns. Kieser led the nation in fumble recoveries.
Kieser was remarkably consistent throughout the season. Only two opponents topped 21 points on the year, and none did so after Sept. 16. The Seahawks allowed 15.2 points per game after that date.
Defensive back Wendol Philord was an AFCA First Team All-American and an AP Second Team All-American on the year. He was the Sun Conference's defensive back of the year, set the school record with seven fumble recoveries, and is the only player in school history to take multiple picks back for touchdowns.
Philord was joined on as an All-Sun First Team performer by defensive lineman Jertavis Black, linebacker Jaelin Willis, and defensive backs Justin Carcel and Kensly Johnson. Defensive lineman Monte Toney, linebacker Tre'von Cooper, and defensive back Louis Lubin III were Second Teamers.
Owens entered college football as a walk-on at Boise State before transferring to Colorado Mesa. He has spent 26 seasons in coaching, helping to win championships as a coordinator at Colorado Mesa and spending more than a decade as a head coach in the California high school ranks. Owens coached Helix Charter High School to five straight San Diego city championships. He joined the Kieser staff in 2022.
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 (Mike Nesbitt [Ottawa Ariz.], Eric Kelly [Friends], EJ Peterson [Grand View], Brian Taylor [College of Idaho] and Owens) 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), and Billy Kirch (Northwestern [Iowa]), 2022).
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