DVD selected for the AFCA 35 under 35
AFCA Announces 2025 35 Under 35 Participants
The AFCA is pleased to announce the selections for its 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year's class was chosen from a field of over 200 highly qualified applicants.
The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Members of the 2024 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute receive a stipend to assist with expenses incurred while attending the AFCA Convention. They will be published in AFCA Magazine, AFCA Insiderweekly email blast, and/or have their articles and videos added to the AFCA Educational Library. Additionally, participants will be placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee and become a part of a prestigious network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.
To be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1989, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach. Applicants were required to submit a resume, five references, and a 1,600-word article or 10-minute live instructional video on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant’s choosing back in the summer.
Those interested in applying for next year’s class, submissions for the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will run from July 1-31, 2025.
Congratulations to the 2025 Class!
AFCA Announces 2025 35 Under 35 Participants
The AFCA is pleased to announce the selections for its 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year's class was chosen from a field of over 200 highly qualified applicants.
The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Members of the 2024 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute receive a stipend to assist with expenses incurred while attending the AFCA Convention. They will be published in AFCA Magazine, AFCA Insiderweekly email blast, and/or have their articles and videos added to the AFCA Educational Library. Additionally, participants will be placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee and become a part of a prestigious network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.
To be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1989, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach. Applicants were required to submit a resume, five references, and a 1,600-word article or 10-minute live instructional video on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant’s choosing back in the summer.
Those interested in applying for next year’s class, submissions for the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will run from July 1-31, 2025.
Congratulations to the 2025 Class!
| Name | School | Position |
| Matt Adkins | Arizona | Offensive Pass Game Coordinator, Tight Ends |
| Tyler Allen | West Virginia | Quarterbacks |
| Ben Arbuckle | Oklahoma | Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks |
| Aaron Bohl | Wyoming | Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers |
| Brayle Brown | Colorado State-Pueblo | Offensive Coordinator |
| Mike Brown | Notre Dame | Wide Receivers |
| Andy Capone | Weddington H.S. (NC) | Head Coach |
| Ryan Clanton | Iowa State | Offensive Run Game Coordinator, Offensive Line |
| AJ Cooper | Oregon State | Inside Linebackers |
| Drew Davis | St. Thomas (Fla.) | Quarterbacks |
| Akeem Davis | UNLV | Cornerbacks |
| Aaron Fierbaugh | Liberty | Safeties |
| Will Fleming | Lamar | Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks |
| Greg Holsworth | Henderson State | Head Coach |
| Savon Huggins | Boston College | Running Backs |
| Ken Lamendola | Air Force | Inside Linebackers |
| Nick Lezynski | Vanderbilt | Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Linebackers |
| Vince Luvara | Hampden-Sydney | Head Coach |
| D'Anton Lynn | Southern California | Defensive Coordinator |
| Dexter McCoil | Texas State | Defensive Coordinator |
| Conner McQueen | Incarnate Word | Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks |
| Rod Ojong | Indiana | Cornerbacks |
| Grant Olson | North Dakota State | Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers |
| Ryan Olson | South Dakota State | Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line |
| Adam Pilapil | Colorado State | Linebackers |
| Arthur Ray Jr | Howard | Offensive Line |
| Marco Regalado | UT-Rio Grande Valley | Running Backs |
| James Ross | Houston | Defensive Ends, Outside Linebackers |
| Myles Russ | Keiser | Head Coach |
| Ra'Shaad Samples | Oregon | Assistant Head Coach, Running Backs |
| Jericho Silvernail | Long Beach City | Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends |
| Christian Smith | Northwestern | Defensive Line |
| DeMarcus Van Dyke | South Florida | Cornerbacks |
| Stanton Weber | Toledo | Special Teams Coordinator |
| Kodi Whitfield | UCLA | Special Teams Coordinator, Cornerbacks |
| *Payton Gibbs | Naples (Fla.) | Defensive Analyst (Honorary Member) |
