Indiana's Tom Allen Named 2020 Werner Ladder AFCA FBS National Coach of the Year

Indiana’s Tom Allen has been named the 2020 Werner Ladder AFCA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Coach of the Year. He was honored during a virtual AFCA Convention awards presentation today.

Allen was selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at FBS schools. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The Werner Ladder AFCA FBS Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.

Werner Ladder became the title sponsor of the AFCA FBS Regional and National Coach of the Year awards in August of 2019. Werner is the world leader in ladders and has a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights.

“Werner is once again excited to be the sponsor and associated with such a prestigious award,” said Stacy Gardella, vice president of brand marketing at WernerCo. “Coach Allen led Indiana to one of its greatest seasons in 2020 as the Hoosiers ‘stepped up’ to every challenge they faced.”

The current balloting procedure involves selection of five regional winners who become finalist for national coach of the year. The other finalist were: Luke Fickell, Cincinnati; Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina; Doc Holliday, Marshall and Brent Brennan, San Jose State.

Allen earned his first AFCA FBS national honor by guiding the Hoosiers to a 6-2 record with an appearance in the Outback Bowl. This was the program’s second straight January bowl game. Indiana was ranked in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports for a program record nine consecutive weeks in 2020. Allen has guided Indiana to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1987-88. Indiana went 8-5 in 2019 with an appearance in the Gator Bowl. He has 24 victories in his four seasons as head coach.

Allen led the Hoosiers to six conference victories this season, which tied for the program’s most since 1967 and 1987. When the Hoosier’s cracked the Top 10 on November 8, it was the program’s first Top 10 ranking since 1969.

Allen is the third Indiana head coach to earn Werner Ladder AFCA FBS National Coach of the Year. The other two were Bo McMillin in 1945 and John Pont in 1967.

Most Awards: Penn State’s Joe Paterno has the most AFCA FBS National Coach of the Year awards with five. He won his honors in 1968, 1972, 1982, 1986 and 2005. Second behind Paterno is Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant with three honors in 1961, 1971 and 1973. Three coaches are tied for third with two honors each: Darrell Royal, Texas, 1963, 1970; John McKay, USC, 1962, 1972 and Gary Patterson, TCU, 2009, 2014.

About Werner

WERNER, a WernerCo brand, is the world leader in ladders and has a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, attic ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, stepstools, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, Werner provides a full line of climbing equipment that’s engineered for maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards.  For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.

For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com.