Portland State's Bruce Barnum has gone from interim Head Coach to National Coach of the Year Finalist in just a few short months.
STATS, sponsor of the FCS National Poll and Post-season Honors, today released a list of 15 coaches who are on the National Coach of the Year ballot and it was no surprise to see the Vikings' Head Coach as one of the recognized.
Barnum's achievements since taking over on the Park Blocks following last season are remarkable:
• The Vikings have achieved the Division I school record for wins (9) in season.
• Portland State matched its best Big Sky Conference record (6-2).
• The Vikings earned a #6 seed in the NCAA Playoffs, getting a first-round bye and a home game on Dec. 5.
• The Vikings are 5-0 against nationally-ranked teams in 2015 after losing the previous 21 in a row dating back to 2008.
• PSU has improved by 6 1/2 games over last season (9-2/3-9).?
• Ranked fifth in the nation entering the NCAA Playoffs, the Vikings have achieved their highest ranking since Oct. 16, 2000 (2nd).\
• Portland State set a school record with five road wins in one season, including tying a school record with four straight road wins.
• PSU ended a three-game losing streak to Eastern Washington on Nov. 21
• PSU ended an eight-game losing streak to Montana on Oct. 31.
• The Vikings stopped a three-game losing streak to Cal Poly on Oct. 24.
• PSU ended an eight-game losing streak to Montana State on Oct. 17.
• An Oct. 10 win at North Texas gave PSU two wins over FBS teams in a season for the first time ever.
• The Vikings beat a Pac-12 team for the first time ever in a win over Washington State on Sept. 5.
As the postseason beckons for a number of the finalists, a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will cast their ballots based on the regular season. The winner will be honored at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation, scheduled for Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the FCS championship game.
The STATS FCS Coach of the Year finalists:
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Bruce Barnum, Portland State
Started the season as an interim head coach, but has been elevated to the full-time job while leading the No. 5 Vikings to a six-win improvement. The Big Sky Conference program has posted two wins over FBS opponents (Washington State and North Texas) and a 5-0 record against FCS Top 25 teams. 2015 Records: 9-2 overall, 6-2 Big Sky
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Jamey Chadwell, Charleston Southern
Having only lost to two FBS opponents, the Buccaneers have captured an outright Big South championship and a spot in the FCS playoffs for the first time. Their FCS national ranking - No. 9 - is their highest ever. 2015 Records: 9-2 overall, 6-0 Big South
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Rick Chamberlin, Dayton
Despite losing the Pioneer Football League's 2014 offensive player of the year to injury after four games, the Flyers went on to earn a share of their first title since 2010 and gain an FCS playoff bid for the first time. Chamberlin's team has overcome second-half deficits in seven wins. 2015 Records: 10-1 overall, 7-1 Pioneer League
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Broderick Fobbs, Grambling State
The No. 21 Tigers have yet to lose to a Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent and will represent the West Division in the conference championship game for the first time since 2011. The second-year coach has led the Tigers to back-to-back winning seasons after they won once in each of the two years prior to his arrival. 2015 Records: 8-2 overall, 8-0 SWAC
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John Grass, Jacksonville State
After sweeping their way to an Ohio Valley Conference title for the second straight year, the top-ranked Gamecocks have earned the top seed in the FCS playoffs. Their only loss was in overtime at Auburn, but they have been No. 1 ever since for 11 weeks. 2015 Records: 10-1 overall, 8-0 OVC
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Mike Houston, The Citadel
Picked seventh in the Southern Conference's preseason poll, the No. 18 Bulldogs are conference co-champions and have earned their first FCS playoff appearance since 1992. They beat the University of South Carolina as part of their third winning season in the last 18 years. 2015 Records: 8-3 overall, 6-1 Southern
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Dan Hunt, Colgate
Having long been a part of Patriot League championship teams as a Raiders assistant coach, he's led them to their eighth title and a spot in the FCS playoffs in his second season as head coach. The Raiders swept through the league while overcoming an 0-3 start to the season. 2015 Records: 7-4 overall, 6-0 Patriot League
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Ed Lamb, Southern Utah
The No. 17 Thunderbirds won only three games a year ago and were picked eighth in both Big Sky preseason polls, but they captured an outright title in the nation's largest FCS conference. They compiled a program-record seven-game winning streak while earning an FCS playoff bid for the second time in three years. 2015 records: 8-3, 7-1 Big Sky
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Jerry Mack, North Carolina Central
Mack has become the first coach at North Carolina Central to win 15 games in his first two seasons. Even better, he has led the Eagles to a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in both seasons. 2015 Records: 8-3 overall, 7-1 MEAC
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Ray Priore, Penn
In Priore's first season as head coach, but his 29th in the program, the Quakers improved by five wins and earned a share of the Ivy League title. In addition to ending Harvard's 22-game winning streak, the Quakers earned a Top 5 win over Villanova. 2015 Records: 7-3 overall, 6-1 Ivy League
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Danny Rocco, Richmond
In capturing a share of the CAA Football title for the second time in the last four seasons, the Spiders earned the conference's automatic bid to the playoffs. The No. 12 Spiders posted a seven-game winning streak earlier this season. 2015 Records: 8-3 overall, 6-2 CAA
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Jerry Schmidt, Duquesne
Having come close to their first FCS playoff appearance before, the Dukes stepped inside from the doorstep of the postseason by winning an outright Northeast Conference championship. They improved from only two conference wins a year ago. 2015 Records: 8-3 overall, 5-1 Northeast
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John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State
The No. 10 Jackrabbits have earned their fourth straight FCS playoff appearance after graduating their all-time leaders in rushing, passing and receiving yards following last season. Their big campaign has included wins over Kansas, Southern Utah and Illinois State. 2015 Records: 8-3 overall, 5-3 Missouri Valley
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Matt Viator, McNeese State
The Southland Conference champion Cowboys, ranked No. 3, were the only FCS team to finish without a loss in the regular season. Viator has set the school record for wins and become the Southland record holder for conference wins. 2015 Records: 10-0 overall, 9-0 Southland
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Chris Villarrial, Saint Francis
The Red Flash posted their first winning season in 23 years on the FCS level and their best record in the Northeast Conference. They finished second after being picked fifth in the conference's preseason poll. 2015 Records: 6-4 overall (NCAA doesn't recognize win over University of Faith), 4-2 Northeast
