University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Thomas Head Football Coach Glenn Caruso named a finalist for FCS Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award
11/22/2021 1:52:00 PM | Football
Chicago, Ill. – St. Thomas Head Football Coach Glenn Caruso is among the 17 finalists for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the national coach of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
Caruso, in his 14th season at St. Thomas, lead his program to a 7-3 overall record in the Tommies first season as an NCAA Division I institution, including a 6-2 record in their first season in the Pioneer Football League. Of the three St. Thomas losses, one came at the hands of the University of Northern Iowa in the Tommies' second game of the season.
On the season, the Tommies finished their season as the top-ranked scoring defense in the Pioneer Football League, allowing just 17.8 points per game, which is over five fewer points than the next closest institution in the conference.
Additionally, St. Thomas led the conference in pass defense efficiency (100.4), pass defense (174.4 passing yards allowed per game), interceptions (22), interception return yards (230), tied for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns (3), opponent third-down conversion rate (31 percent), opponent fourth-down conversion rate (28 percent), and opponent first downs allowed (166).
Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State and first presented in 1987, the Robinson Award is celebrating its 35th anniversary season. A 50-member, national media panel will select the winner, who will be announced on Dec. 14.
2021 Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award Finalists
Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State (Big South)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-0; Notable: Outright Big South champ is unbeaten against non-FBS teams
Colby Carthel, Stephen F. Austin (AQ7)
Team Record: 8-3, 4-2; Notable: Lumberjacks have earned first playoff bid since 2014
Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas (Pioneer)
Team Record: 7-3, 6-2; Notable: After move up from Division III, Tommies tied for third-best PFL record
Bob Chesney, Holy Cross (Patriot)
Team Record: 9-2, 6-0; Notable: Crusaders beat FBS program UConn, pushed league win streak to 11
Matt Entz North Dakota State (MVFC)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-1; Notable: Outright MVFC champ has earned the No. 2 seed in playoffs
Mark Ferrante, Villanova (CAA)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: CAA co-champ earned automatic playoff bid with win at James Madison
K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston (AQ7)
Team Record: 10-0, 6-0; Notable: 2016 Robinson Award recipient has led reigning FCS champ to No. 1 playoff seed
Chris Merritt, Bryant (Northeast)
Team Record: 7-4, 5-2; Notable: Bulldogs knocked off NEC champ Sacred Heart in best season since 2014
Eric Morris, Incarnate Word (Southland)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: Cardinals captured first outright Southland title and automatic playoff bid
Bobby Petrino, Missouri State (MVFC)
Team Record: 8-3, 6-2; Notable: Bears finished second in an MVFC that has six playoff teams
Oliver "Buddy" Pough, South Carolina State (MEAC)
Team Record: 6-5, 5-0; Notable: After MEAC sweep, Bulldogs to play in Celebration Bowl for first time
Deion Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)
Team Record: 10-1, 8-0; Notable: Tigers to play in SWAC championship game for first time since 2013
Randy Sanders, East Tennessee State (Southern)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-1; Notable: Outright SoCon champ earned No. 7 playoff seed
Jason Simpson, Tennessee-Martin (OVC)
Team Record: 9-2, 5-1; Notable: Outright OVC champ posted program-record nine-game win streak
Troy Taylor, Sacramento State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 9-2, 8-0; Notable: 2019 Robinson Award recipient has led Hornets to Big Sky title, No. 4 playoff seed
Buddy Teevens, Dartmouth (Ivy)
Team Record: 9-1, 6-1; Notable: Ivy co-champ has gone at least 8-2 in six of last seven seasons
Brent Vigen, Montana State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: First-time head coach has led Bobcats to No. 7 playoff seed
Caruso, in his 14th season at St. Thomas, lead his program to a 7-3 overall record in the Tommies first season as an NCAA Division I institution, including a 6-2 record in their first season in the Pioneer Football League. Of the three St. Thomas losses, one came at the hands of the University of Northern Iowa in the Tommies' second game of the season.
On the season, the Tommies finished their season as the top-ranked scoring defense in the Pioneer Football League, allowing just 17.8 points per game, which is over five fewer points than the next closest institution in the conference.
Additionally, St. Thomas led the conference in pass defense efficiency (100.4), pass defense (174.4 passing yards allowed per game), interceptions (22), interception return yards (230), tied for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns (3), opponent third-down conversion rate (31 percent), opponent fourth-down conversion rate (28 percent), and opponent first downs allowed (166).
Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State and first presented in 1987, the Robinson Award is celebrating its 35th anniversary season. A 50-member, national media panel will select the winner, who will be announced on Dec. 14.
2021 Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award Finalists
Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State (Big South)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-0; Notable: Outright Big South champ is unbeaten against non-FBS teams
Colby Carthel, Stephen F. Austin (AQ7)
Team Record: 8-3, 4-2; Notable: Lumberjacks have earned first playoff bid since 2014
Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas (Pioneer)
Team Record: 7-3, 6-2; Notable: After move up from Division III, Tommies tied for third-best PFL record
Bob Chesney, Holy Cross (Patriot)
Team Record: 9-2, 6-0; Notable: Crusaders beat FBS program UConn, pushed league win streak to 11
Matt Entz North Dakota State (MVFC)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-1; Notable: Outright MVFC champ has earned the No. 2 seed in playoffs
Mark Ferrante, Villanova (CAA)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: CAA co-champ earned automatic playoff bid with win at James Madison
K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston (AQ7)
Team Record: 10-0, 6-0; Notable: 2016 Robinson Award recipient has led reigning FCS champ to No. 1 playoff seed
Chris Merritt, Bryant (Northeast)
Team Record: 7-4, 5-2; Notable: Bulldogs knocked off NEC champ Sacred Heart in best season since 2014
Eric Morris, Incarnate Word (Southland)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: Cardinals captured first outright Southland title and automatic playoff bid
Bobby Petrino, Missouri State (MVFC)
Team Record: 8-3, 6-2; Notable: Bears finished second in an MVFC that has six playoff teams
Oliver "Buddy" Pough, South Carolina State (MEAC)
Team Record: 6-5, 5-0; Notable: After MEAC sweep, Bulldogs to play in Celebration Bowl for first time
Deion Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)
Team Record: 10-1, 8-0; Notable: Tigers to play in SWAC championship game for first time since 2013
Randy Sanders, East Tennessee State (Southern)
Team Record: 10-1, 7-1; Notable: Outright SoCon champ earned No. 7 playoff seed
Jason Simpson, Tennessee-Martin (OVC)
Team Record: 9-2, 5-1; Notable: Outright OVC champ posted program-record nine-game win streak
Troy Taylor, Sacramento State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 9-2, 8-0; Notable: 2019 Robinson Award recipient has led Hornets to Big Sky title, No. 4 playoff seed
Buddy Teevens, Dartmouth (Ivy)
Team Record: 9-1, 6-1; Notable: Ivy co-champ has gone at least 8-2 in six of last seven seasons
Brent Vigen, Montana State (Big Sky)
Team Record: 9-2, 7-1; Notable: First-time head coach has led Bobcats to No. 7 playoff seed
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