FootballScoop is proud to announce that Adam Austin (Tarleton State) is the 2025 FootballScoop FCS Coordinator of the Year, presented by Teamworks as selected by prior winners.
A Division II program until very recently, Tarleton State used the slow mesh to get off to a fast start at the FCS level.
The Texans finished their 2025 season on Saturday with a 12-2 record -- tied for the most wins in the program's 121-year history -- a win over FBS Army, a United Athletic Conference championship, and a berth in the FCS quarterfinals. Tarleton State is the first program in more than 30 years to reach the FCS quarterfinals within their first two years of eligibility.
The Texans accomplished all of that behind the top scoring offense in FCS. At 42.4 points per game, Tarleton State scored at least 28 points in every game until their quarterfinal loss to Villanova, including a midseason run of four consecutive outings of at least 52 points.
Tarleton State was prolific and efficient through the air, finishing the year 16th in passing offense and fourth in efficiency. Quarterback Victor Gabalis ended the year 187-of-316 for 2,896 yards (9.2 per attempt) with 30 touchdowns against six interceptions, and was a Second Team All-UAC honoree for his efforts. Wide receiver Peyton Kramer was one of 20 FCS receivers to hit the 1,000-yard mark, hauling in 54 receptions for 1,023 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Texans were also a top-20 unit on the ground, averaging 193.1 yards per game on 4.71 yards per carry with 22 touchdowns.
Averaging 457.6 yards per game and 6.62 per play, Tarleton State finished ninth in total offense and was one of three teams in FCS to finish among the top 20 in passing and rushing offense. The Texans committed only nine turnovers across 14 games -- fueling a 2.14 turnover margin that led FCS by a relative margin -- and their 319 first downs were fourth in the nation.
Kramer and offensive lineman Hunter Smith were First Team All-UAC honorees, and Gabalis was joined on the Second Team by running back Tre Page III, wide receiver Cody Jackson, and offensive linemen Aidan Moe and Braden Smith.
An Arizona graduate, Austin deposited GA stints at Grambling State and Marshall before landing the quarterbacks job at Midwestern State in 2011. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013 and remained in that post for the next seasons. Further stops took Austin to Eastern Kentucky, Garden City Community College and Missouri Southern State before joining Tarleton State's staff in 2021 as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. He was promoted to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season.
The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards presented by Teamworks are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. The finalists (Brandon Andersen and Trent Earley [Prairie View A&M], Chris Barnette [Alabama State], Jeff Bowen [UTRGV], Jeff Gallo [Monmouth], Mike Mutz [Stephen F. Austin], Grant Olson [North Dakota State], Dan Owen [Presbyterian], Anthony Soto [Mercer] and Austin) 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 FCS Coordinator of the Year award are Heishman Northern (Prairie View A&M, 2008), Bob Shoop (William & Mary, 2009), Nick Rapone (Delaware, 2010), Scott Stoker (Sam Houston State, 2011), Chris Klieman (North Dakota State, 2012), Sterlin Gilbert (Eastern Illinois, 2013), Don Bailey (Idaho State, 2014), Lyle Hemphill (Stony Brook, 2015), Phil Longo (Sam Houston State, 2016), Bob Trott (James Madison, 2017), Matt Entz (North Dakota State, 2018), Shane Montgomery (James Madison, 2019), Ryan Carty (Sam Houston, 2020), David Braun (North Dakota State, 2021), Jimmy Rogers (South Dakota State, 2022), Zach Lujan (South Dakota State, 2023), and Tyler Walker (Montana State, 2024).
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