Villanova's Ferrante Named AFCA FCS Region I Coach of the Year
WACO, TEXAS – Villanova University head football coach
Mark Ferrante has been named the AFCA FCS Region I Coach of the Year. Ferrante and the other award winners will be honored on January 10 during the 2022 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship 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. The Regional winners in each division are now finalists for National Coach of the Year honors.
Ferrante guided Villanova to a share of its first CAA Football championship and the league's automatic bid to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Wildcats have been nationally-ranked for the entire season and are currently 10-2 on the year as they prepare for a home quarterfinal playoff game against South Dakota State this weekend. Villanova went 7-1 during conference play and marked its first regular season with only two losses since 2014. It was also the fifth time in the Wildcats era as an FCS program (since 1985) with one or fewer losses in conference games.
Villanova was rewarded for its outstanding regular season with a bevy of CAA Football postseason awards. Ferrante was selected by his peers as the CAA Football Coach of the Year, while graduate student linebacker
Forrest Rhyne was the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Rhyne was one of 13 Wildcats to earn mention on the CAA Football All-Conference Teams. Villanova had three first team selections, six student-athletes on the second team and four on the third team.
When the 24-team bracket for the Division I Football Championship was announced on November 21, the Wildcats drew a #5 national seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. Villanova opened its postseason run last Friday when it defeated Holy Cross, 21-16, in a second round game at Villanova Stadium. This week the Wildcats host South Dakota State on Saturday at 2 p.m.