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Waco, Texas — The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2024 Assistant Coach of the Year winners, with 91ÖÆƬ³§ Assistant Head Football Coach and Offensive Coordinator being named 2024 AFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.

One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities. A total of 67 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA were nominated in 2024.
Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee.

The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.

The 2024 honorees are as follows:

FBS–Sean Saturnio, Special Teams Coordinator, Army West Point

FCS–Don Dobes, Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers, Dartmouth College

Division II–Roy Thompson, Jr., Defensive Coordinator, Ouachita Baptist University

Division III–Cody Baethke, Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs, Coe College

NAIA–MichaelÌýJones, Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Coach, 91ÖÆƬ³§

The criterion for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation inÌýAFCAÌýactivities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all considered in the selection process.

137 assistant coaches from 103 different schools have been honored by theÌýAFCAÌýsince the inception of the award in 1997 … Iowa and Virginia Union join Benedictine (Kan.), Morningside, Bethel (Minn.), Campbellsville, Carson-Newman and Hampton as schools with three winners each … Army, Air Force, Carroll (Mont.), Central (Iowa), Clemson, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Kansas Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson, Marian, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State, Tabor, Wabash, Washington (Mo.) and Winona State all have two winners each.

Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate their recognition. They will be honored Sunday, January 12, during the 2025ÌýAFCAÌýConvention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sean Saturnio, Army West Point:ÌýSaturnio is in his 11thÌýyear as an assistant for the Army Black Knights and his 6thÌýyear as special teams coordinator … Long-standing member of theÌýAFCAÌýwho was a finalist for theÌýAFCAÌýAssistant Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022 … Saturnio has participated and led a group of Army football players to participate, work, and lead in a Special Olympics event every spring … Hosts a weekly leadership and mentorship program for select football players on the Army roster … Under Saturnio, Army has blocked 11 punts in each of the last four seasons and has a total of 20 blocked punts and field goals, which is the most in the country in that span … In 2020, Army led the nation in both blocked kicks and blocked punts under Saturnio.

Don Dobes, Dartmouth:ÌýDobes has been a college coach for 45 years with the last 15 at Dartmouth … He has been a part of five Ivy League titles at Dartmouth and 11 total including his time at Princeton and Penn … Dobes is an active member of theÌýAFCAÌýand has served on both theÌýAFCAÌýAssistant Coaches Committee andÌýAFCAÌýRegistration Committee … Dobes works with the Andy Talley Foundation, who helps find life-saving donors for patients in need of blood stem cell or bone marrow transplants, Derek’s Dreams, which raises awareness and funds for a treatment or cure for Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T), and Lauren’s First and Goal, which supports pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services … In 2023, under Dobes, Dartmouth finished 14thÌýnationally in scoring defense, 12thÌýin total defense, 10thÌýin fourth down conversions, and 4thÌýin first down defense … In 2024, Dobes’ defense allowed fewer than 20 points in five of 10 games and ranked 7thÌýnationally in rushing defense.

Roy Thompson, Jr., Ouachita Baptist:ÌýThompson, who was just named the head coach at Arkansas Tech, has been at Ouachita Baptist for 13 years in two different stints … From 2009-2012, he served as the linebackers and defensive line coach … Long-timeÌýAFCAÌýmember who has served on both theÌýAFCAÌýMeeting Room Committee and theÌýAFCAÌýD2 Assistant Coaches Committee … Thompson is a deacon for his church in Arkadelphia … Leader of various professional development programs for youth and high schoolers …. Tigers ended 2024 with a 10-2 record and an appearance in the D2 playoffs … Thompson’s defense was No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense and tied for third in tackles for loss … Thompson has coached four players who have earned All-America honors, seven All-Region players, and 26 All-Conference players.

Cody Baethke, Coe:ÌýBaethke joined the Coe coaching staff in 2018 after four years as an assistant at Central College … An active member of theÌýAFCA, Baethke is a member of theÌýAFCAÌýProgram Committee, who introduces speakers at the annual coaches convention … Organizes several team volunteer activities and participated in several community events such as American Reads, Special Olympics and Planting Forward through Mercy Medical and St. Lukes Hospital … Led the first ever overseas trip for the Coe football program … In 2023, Baethke’s defense finished top 10 in the country in six different categories … This year the Kohawk’s went 9-2 and advanced to the NCAA playoffs … Coe’s defense ranked second in the American Rivers Conference in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense.

MichaelÌýJones, Florida Memorial:ÌýJonesÌýis the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback coach at Florida Memorial …ÌýAFCAÌýmember and yearly convention attendee … Volunteered with JA Finance helping with a Middle School field trip … Also taken players to speak at local elementary schools and helped feed the homeless at Miami Rescue … In 2023,ÌýJonesÌýwas awarded the inaugural Assistant Coach of the Year Award for the Sun Conference for guiding an offense that finished first in rushing and third in passing … Finished the 2024 season third in the Sun Conference in total offense at 425.1 yards per game and third in rushing at 207.6 yards a game … Key contributor to the Lions’ seven All-Conference honorees.