Wilson Named Coach of the Year for AFCA NCAA DII Region 2

Wilson Led the Bulldogs to a 12 Game Winning Season

MEDIA CONTACT: Jolisa K Williams, jkwilliams@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-3574

(WACO, Tx.) – Bowie State's head football coach Damon Wilson has been named the American Football Coaches (AFCA) NCAA Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year. Announced Dec. 6, the AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA. The winners are selected by active members of the association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.

This is the first AFCA Regional Coach of the Year recognition for Wilson in his 12^th year as head coach at Bowie State and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year for 2021. Wilson led the Bulldogs to a 12 game winning season and the third-consecutive season that BSU has won 10 games or more.

“I have worked alongside Coach Wilson for seven good years strategically planning to improve the functionality and performance of the Bulldog football program. This honor is well earned and well deserved,” said Clyde Doughty, BSU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation. “We will work in earnest to continue the success of the football program by recruiting quality student-athletes who strive for success in the classroom and on the gridiron.”

The nationally-ranked Bulldogs went undefeated for the second-straight season against conference opponents (7-0), and captured its third Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship and Northern Division title. Under Wilson’s leadership, Bowie State also made school history by reaching the Super Region Two Finals (NCAA DII Quarterfinals) after defeating Lenoir-Rhyne (31-10) and Newberry (13-10) in the first and second rounds of the NCAA playoffs. The last time a CIAA school reached the region finals was in 2011.

In addition to the playoff appearances, the two games also marked the first time Bowie State hosted back-to-back playoff contests at Bulldogs Stadium. Bowie State concluded the 2021 season with a 6-0 record at home while registering 10 players to the All-CIAA ballots, including three first team recipients and six second team All-CIAA honorees, along with one All-CIAA Rookie Team nod.

Amongst the Super Region Two accolades, Wilson had five players named to the All-Region Team highlighted by sophomore Jonathan Ross (Waldorf, MD) who was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Of those five All-Region selections, Bowie State had three players tab first team and three second team.

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