Southeast Missouri Head Coach Tony Samuel was named the American Football Coaches Association Region 3 Coach of the Year. The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association’s five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA. Samuel was also named the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, after leading Southeast to its first-ever OVC title and NCAA Playoff appearance.
After being picked next to last in the OVC’s Preseason Poll, the Redhawks finished 9-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play in their best season in the 104-year history of their football program. Samuel’s 2010 squad broke numerous team and individual single-season records. Samuel guided Southeast to a 5-0 record at home, marking the first time the Redhawks went undefeated at Houck Stadium since they joined the OVC and NCAA Division I ranks. Southeast’s nine victories tied for the most in a season with the 1937 and 1955 squads.
The Redhawks ranked nationally in several statistical categories this season and rated among the Top-10 teams in the country for four-straight weeks prior to their 37-17 second round NCAA Division I Football Championship loss to Eastern Washington.