NAIA Football Championship Honors

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE BACK of The Game

1965

Stan Suchta, St. John's (Minn.)

1966

Rich Dahar, Waynesburg (Pa.)

1967

----

1968

Gene Walkoviak, Troy State (Ala.)

1969

Karl Douglas, Texas A&I

1970

Karl Douglas, Texas A&I (I)

 

Dave Bierbach, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1971

Larry Brown, Arkansas Tech (I)

 

Brian Kelley, California Lutheran (II)

1972

Ken Parks, East Texas State (I)

 

Curt Krull, Northwestern (Iowa) (II)

1973

Wilbert Montgomery, Abilene Christian (Texas) (I)

 

Curt Krull, Northwestern (Iowa) (II)

1974

Don Hardeman, Texas A&I (I)

 

Mike Washington, Texas Lutheran (II)

1975

Larry Collins, Texas A&I (I)

 

Mike Washington, Texas Lutheran (II)

1976

Larry Collins, Texas A&I (I)

 

Jan Budai, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

 

OUTSTANDIN LINEMAN of the Game

1965

Fred Cremer, St. John's (Minn.)

1966

Dennis Williamson, Wisconsin-Whitewater

1967

----

1968

Ray Hickl, Texas A&I

1969

Jim Respondek, Texas A&I

1970

----

 

Bill Schrecengost, Anderson (Ind.) (II)

1971

Nels Strickland, Livingston (Ala.) (I)

 

Mike Sheppard, California Lutheran (II)

1972

Tim George, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Mike Benard, Northwestern (Iowa) (II)

1973

Chip Martin, Abilene Christian (Texas) (I)

 

Mark Reger, Glenville State (W.Va.) (II)

1974

Mike Hawkins, Texas A&I (I)

 

Willie Gibson, Texas Lutheran (II)

1975

Howard Henderson, Texas A&I (I)

 

Phil Dunne, Texas Lutheran (II)

1976

----

 

Brian DeRoo, Redlands (Calif.) (II)


OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER of the Game

1977

Kelly Kent, Abilene Christian (Texas) (I)

 

Frank Rondinelli, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1978

Mark Embry, Angelo State (Texas) (I)

 

Bob Beliveau, Concordia (Minn.) (II)

1979

Martin Stroman, Texas A&I (I)

 

Paul Rina, Findlay (Ohio) (II)

1980

Bobby Hedrick, Elon (N.C.) (I)

 

Chris Utt, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (II)

1981

Phil Renn, Elon (N.C.) (I)

 

Gene Branum, Austin College (Texas) (II)

1982

Daric Zeno, Central State (Okla.) (I)

 

Randy Mueller, Linfield (Ore.) (II)

1983

Larry Smith, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Lee McKinstrey, Northwestern (Iowa) (II)

1984

Kenneth Tyson, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

David Lindley, Linfield (Ore.) (II)

1985

Tim Grote, Hillsdale (Mich.) (I)

 

Dan Lowney, Wisconsin-LaCrosse (II)

1986

Pat Johnson, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

David Lindley, Linfield (Ore.) (II)

1987

Chuck Smith, Cameron (Okla.) (I)

 

Pat Dorsey, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (II)

1988

Vernon Turner, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Joe Micchia, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1989

Robert Hardy, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Joe Micchia, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1990

Ray Hill, Central State (Ohio) (I)

 

Nate Bradley, Peru State (Neb.) (II)

1991

Steve Strange, Central Arkansas (I)

 

Dane Damron, Georgetown (Ky.) (II)

1992

Henderson Mosley, Central State (Ohio) (I)

 

DeMya Wimberly, Findlay (Ohio) (II)

1993

Tyler Jack, East Central (Okla.) (I)

 

Marc Weekly, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (II)

1994

Eddie Akins, Northeastern State (Okla.) (I)

 

Tim McNeil, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1995

Antonio Davis, Central State (Ohio) (I)

 

Tony Pearson, Findlay (Ohio) (II)

1996

Keith Kizzie, Southwestern Oklahoma (I)

 

Kurtiss Riggs, Sioux Falls (S.D.) (II)

1997

Jamie Smiddy, Findlay (Ohio)

1998

Jack Williams, Azusa Pacific (Calif.)

1999

Al Hunt, Northwestern Oklahoma State

2000

Cody Brown, Georgetown (Ky.)

2001

Eddie Eviston, Georgetown (Ky.)

2002

Rob Latrielle, Carroll (Mont.)

2003

Tyler Emmert, Carroll (Mont.)

2004

Tyler Emmert, Carroll (Mont.)


OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER of the Game

1977

Ray Nunez, Abilene Christian (Texas) (I)

 

Frank Emanuele, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1978

Kelvin Smith, Angelo State (Texas) (I)

 

Mike Lee, Concordia (Minn.) (II)

1979

Emmuel Thompson, Texas A&I (I)

 

Charlie Byrd, Findlay (Ohio) (II)

1980

Stanley Tootoo, Elon (N.C.) (I)

 

Scott Kessler, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (II)

1981

Chris Worst, Elon (N.C.) (I)

 

Dwight Hintermeister, Concordia (Minn.) (II)

1982

Mike Tasby, Central State (Okla.) (I)

 

Mike McAllister, Linfield (Ore.) (II)

1983

Carlton Gunn, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Tom Hayes, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (II)

1984

Allen Stevens, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

James Lee, Linfield (Ore.) (II)

1985

Kurt Norman, Hillsdale (Mich.) (I)

 

Ken Van Vreede, Wisconsin-LaCrosse (II)

1986

Don Bramlett, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Damon Liles, Linfield (Ore.) (II)

1987

Bryan Callihan, Cameron (Okla.) (I)

 

Vacated (II)

1988

Beauford Perkins, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Casey Campbell, Wisconsin-LaCrosse (II)

1989

Gary Laging, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) (I)

 

Louis Berry, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1990

Marvin Pope, Central State (Ohio) (I)

 

Bob Hansen, Peru State (Neb.) (II)

1991

Chris Smith, Central Arkansas (I)

 

Jeff Watts, Georgetown (Ky.) (II)

1992

James Harbison, Gardner-Webb (N.C.) (I)

 

Chris Smith, Findlay (Ohio) (II)

1993

Cory Bennett, East Central (Okla.) (I)

 

Jason Thiel, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (II)

1994

Charles Burrell, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (I)

 

Craig Villwock, Westminster (Pa.) (II)

1995

Russel Meeks, Central State (Ohio) (I)

 

Shaun Raykovich, Central Washington (II)

1996

Mark Patterson, Southwestern Oklahoma (I)

 

Travis Dumke, Sioux Falls (S.D.) (II)

1997

Craig Aukerman, Findlay (Ohio)

1998

Greg Reid, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)

1999

Daryl Richardson, Northwestern Oklahoma State

2000

Brian Landis, Georgetown (Ky.)

2001

B.J. Mattingly, Georgetown (Ky.)

2002

Ian Ruth, Georgetown (Ky.)

2003

Brett Bermingham, Carroll (Mont.)

2004

Marty Starks, St. Francis (Ind.)


NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

1956

Dewey Halford, Morningside (Iowa)

1957

Frank Waters, Hillsdale (Mich.)

1958

Volney Ashford, Missouri Valley

1959

Clarence Stasavich, Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)

1960

Phil Sarboe, Humboldt State (Calif.)

1961

Carnie Smith, Pittsburg State (Kan.)

1962

Paul Durham, Linfield (Ore.)

1963

Billy Nicks, Prairie View A&M (Texas)

1964

Jake Christiansen, Concordia (Minn.)

1965

John Gagliardi, St. John's (Minn.)

1966

Forrest Perkins, Wisconsin-Whitewater

1967

Deacon Duvall, Fairmont State (W.Va.)

1968

Bill Atkins, Troy State (Ala.)

1969

Jake Gaither, Florida A&M

1970

Gil Steinke, Texas A&I

1971

Robert Shoup, California Lutheran

1972

Jim Frazier, Missouri Southern

1973

Larry Korver, Northwestern (Iowa)

1974

Gil Steinke, Texas A&I

1975

Gil Steinke, Texas A&I

1976

Gil Steinke, Texas A&I

1977

DeWitt Jones, Abilene Christian (Texas)

1978

Jim Hess, Angelo State (Texas)

1979-I

Ron Harms, Texas A&I

1979-II

Richard Strahm, Findlay (Ohio)

1980-I

Jerry Tolley, Elon (N.C.)

1980-II

Stan McGarvey, William Jewell (Mo.)

1981-I

Ron Randleman, Pittsburg State (Kan.)

1981-II

Jim Christopherson, Concordia (Minn.)

1982-I

Dick Lowry, Hillsdale (Mich.)

1982-II

Ad Rutschman, Linfield (Ore.)

1983-I

Harold Horton, Central Arkansas

1983-II

Frosty Westering, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.)

1984-I

Ken Sparks, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)

1984-II

Ad Rutschman, Linfield (Ore.)

1985-I

Ralph Carpenter, Henderson State (Ark.)

1985-II

Larry Korver, Northwestern (Iowa)

1986-I

Dennis Franchione, Pittsburg State (Kan.)

1986-II

Ad Rutschman, Linfield (Ore.)

1987-I

Dennis Franchione, Pittsburg State (Kan.)

1987-II

Vacated

1988-I

Jon Lantz, Southeastern Oklahoma

1988-II

Joe Fusco, Westminster (Pa.)

1989-I

Jeff Geiser, Adams State (Colo.)

1989-II

Joe Fusco, Westminster (Pa.)

1990-I

Mike Isom, Central Arkansas

1990-II

Tom Shea, Peru State (Neb.)

1991-I

Carl "Duke" Iverson, Western State (Colo.)

1991-II

Kevin Donley, Georgetown (Ky.)

1992-I

Billy Joe, Central State (Ohio)

1992-II

Dick Strahm, Findlay (Ohio)

1993-I

Rich Rodriguez, Glenville State (W.Va.)

1993-II

Frosty Westering, Pacific Lutheran (Wash.)

1994-I

Tom Eckert, Northeastern State (Okla.)

1994-II

Gene Nicholson, Westminster (Pa.)

1995-I

Rick Comegy, Central State (Ohio)

1995-II

Dick Strahm, Findlay (Ohio)

1996-I

Paul Sharp, Southwestern Oklahoma

1996-II

Bob Young, Sioux Falls (S.D.)

1997

Dick Strahm, Findlay (Ohio)

1998

Vic Shealy, Azusa Pacific (Calif.)

1999

Tim Albin, Northwestern Oklahoma

2000

Bill Cronin, Georgetown (Ky.)

2001

Bill Cronin, Georgetown (Ky.)

2002

Carl Poelker, McKendree (Ill.)

2003

Mike Van Diest, Carroll (Mont.)

2004

 


NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1997

Bo Hurley, Findlay (Ohio)

1998

Jack Williams, Azusa Pacific (Calif.)

1999

Eddie Eviston, Georgetown (Ky.)

2000

Eddie Eviston, Georgetown (Ky.)

2001

Eddie Eviston, Georgetown (Ky.)

2002

Nick Kortan, Sioux Falls (S.D.)

2003

Tyler Emmert, Carroll (Mont.)

2004

Cory Jacquay, St. Francis (Ind.)

 

Championship Information

NAIA Football Championship

70th ANNUAL
FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13, 2025
Football Championship Series
Campus Sites

Dec. 20, 2025

Crowley ISD Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas