FootballScoop is proud to announce that Brian Borland (Wisconsin-Whitewater) as the 2013 FootballScoop Division III Coordinator of the Year presented by ProGrass.
Wisconsin-Whitewater's success this season shouldn't come as a surprise - the program is a machine for a reason - but it's still staggering when you look at it all together. In 15 games, two opponents managed to come within 10 points of the Warhawks. That's not because Whitewater was a juggernaut offensively. They were successful, yes, but the team's success can be attributed to a Brian Borland-led defense that was a steel curtain in the best sense of the word.
Whitewater allowed a total of 136 points in 15 games. That's a ridiculous 9.1 points allowed per game. Technically, the Warhawks allowed 9.067 points per game, placing them slightly ahead of John Carroll's 9.09 points allowed per game as the best scoring defense in all of college football.
Borland's defense threw two shutouts and held seven opponents to single digits. Whitewater didn't allow more than 17 points in a game all season, and didn't allow its 100th point until the 1:48 mark of the first quarter in the Warhawks' 13th game of the season - 733 minutes and 12 seconds of game action into the season.
Borland's unit forced 44 turnovers (25 interceptions, 19 fumble recoveries), also the most across college football. The Warhawks allowed 244.9 yards per game (third in Division III), 73.1 rushing yards per game (fifth) and 171.7 passing yards per game (47th).
Whitewater ranked ninth nationally in pass efficiency defense, permitting only 251-of-483 completions (52 percent) for 2,576 yards (5.33 yards per attempt) for eight touchdowns against the aforementioned 25 picks for a 91.88 rating.
"Brian has been the rock of our defense throughout all these years," head coach Lance Liepold said. "He's been here for all eight of our Stagg Bowls, and a cornerstone of the program. He's a brilliant defensive coordinator and a very hard worker. We're very fortunate to have him."
Borland's defense had two players garner All-America honors from D3Football.com, while 10 defenders earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors. Senior middle linebacker Cole Klotz was named the WIAC's Player of the Year.
Whitewater cruised a perfect 15-0 season, defeating Mount Union 52-14 in the Stagg Bowl. It was the program's fifth national championship in seven seasons.
Borland is a graduate of Morningside College, where he lettered in football and track. He has served as a graduate assistant at Florida and Wisconsin, and as defensive backs coach at Arizona Western College. In addition to Whitewater, Borland has defensive coordinator experience at Baker (Kan.) University and the University of Minnesota-Morris.
The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards presented by ProGrass are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. The finalists (Borland, Jeff Thorne - North Central, Jackson Vaughan - Linfield) were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors, and athletic department personnel. The prior winners unanimously selected Borland as this year's winner.
Borland will receive his award and be recognized at an event at the AFCA Convention in January.
Previous winners of the Division III Coach of the Year award are Glen Fowles (Williamette, 2008), Jim Zebrowski (Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2009), Vince Kehres (Mount Union, 2010), Wallie Kuchinski (St. Thomas, 2011) and John O'Grady (Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2012).
