Hood Named Finalist For Eddie Robinson Award

Murray State head football coach Dean Hood has been named as one of 16 finalists for the 2021 FCS Stats Perform Eddie Robinson Award, the FCS news organization announced Monday. The Robinson award is given annually to the national coach of the year in the Division I football championship subdivision.

Hood oversaw one of the best turnarounds in the nation this spring when he led Murray State to its first winning season since 2011 and best OVC record since 2005. His Racers started the season at 5-0, tying the 1995 team for the best start in school history. Murray State also returned to the top 25 polls under Hood this season, earning its first ranking since 2011 and staying in the polls for six consecutive weeks.

The 2021 Eddie Robinson award will be voted on by a 40-person media panel and will be announced May 4.

2020-21 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD FINALISTS
Scott Abell, Davidson (Pioneer)
Team Record: 4-2, 4-1 (1^st)
Notable: Wildcats earned first conference title since 1969 as well as first FCS playoff bid

Kevin Callahan, Monmouth (Big South)
Team Record: 3-0 (1^st)
Notable: Hawks earned second straight outright conference title and third playoff bid in four years

Dave Cecchini, Bucknell (Patriot)
Team Record: 2-2 (1^st North Division)
Notable: Bison played in first Patriot League championship game

Curt Cignetti, James Madison (CAA)
Team Record: 5-0, 3-0 (1^st South Division)
Notable: Second-year coach improved to 11-0 in conference as Dukes earned No. 3 playoff seed

Bryan Collins, LIU (Northeast)
Team Record: 2-2 (Tie/3^rd)
Notable: Sharks earned first two wins as an FCS program after a winless debut in 2019

Landon Fox, Valparaiso (Pioneer)
Team Record: 4-2 (Tie/2^nd)
Notable: After Fox's one-win debut in 2019, Crusaders posted best winning percentage since 2003

Jay Hill, Weber State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 5-0 (1^st)
Notable: Wildcats won fourth straight conference title and earned fifth straight playoff bid

Dean Hood, Murray State (Ohio Valley)
Team Record: 5-2 (2^nd)
Notable: In Hood's first season, Racers tied 1995 team for the best start (5-0) in program history

K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston (Southland)
Team Record: 6-0 (1^st)
Notable: Bearkats captured Southland title by two games before earning No. 2 playoff seed

Connell Maynor, Alabama A&M (SWAC)
Team Record: 4-0, 3-0 (1^st East Division)
Notable: Brought Aggies back from 35-day layoff to lead first SWAC championship berth since 2011

Rod Milstead, Delaware State (MEAC)
Team Record: 2-3
Notable: Overtime loss to South Carolina State all that denied winning season for much-improved team

Bobby Petrino, Missouri State (Missouri Valley)
Team Record: 5-4, 5-1 (Tie/1^st)
Notable: In Petrino's first season, Bears picked ninth, then earned share of first MVFC title since 1990

Charles "Doc" Roberts, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)
Team Record: 4-0 (1^st West Division)
Notable: Interim coach has led Golden Lions to SWAC championship game for first time since 2012

Danny Rocco, Delaware (CAA)
Team Record: 5-0, 4-0 (1^st North Division)
Notable: Blue Hens matched 2019 win total while earning CAA's automatic playoff bid

Kyle "Bubba" Schweigert, North Dakota (Missouri Valley)
Team Record: 4-1 (Tie/1^st)
Notable: Fighting Hawks earned MVFC title share in first season in the conference as well as playoff bid

Scott Wachenheim, VMI (Southern)
Team Record: 6-1 (1^st)
Notable: Keydets captured first SoCon title since 1977 and program's first-ever FCS playoff bid

Murray State University Athletics

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