2009 FCA Award Winners

FCA has named the reciepients of three of the ministry’s major awards. Check out the winners below:

FCA Football Coach of the Year
Houston Nutt, University of Mississippi

Since being named the Rebels’ 36th head coach in November of 2007, Houston Nutt has guided Ole Miss to success not experienced in Oxford in 40 years. In his first two years he’s coached the Rebels to consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time since 1961-62 as well as back-to-back January bowl victories for the first time since 1960-61. Following his 2008 SEC Coach of the Year honor, he led his 2009 team to as high as #4 in the national rankings this year. Ole Miss knocked off LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas on their way to a second straight berth at the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in which the Rebels were victorious against #18 Oklahoma State and finished #20 in the AP Top 25.

For ten years prior to Ole Miss, Nutt was head coach at Arkansas, leading them to three SEC Western Division Titles and ten bowl berths. In 2009, Nutt earned his 50th career coaching victory against SEC opponents (52-47 SEC; 93-56 overall as an SEC coach). He is just the 14th conference coach all-time to reach that mark.


Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award
Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts

After 31 years in the NFL, Tony Dungy is one of the most respected NFL coaches in the league, not only for his coaching skills and successes, but for his character, faith and devotion to family and charitable causes. Now retired from coaching, but as busy as ever, Dungy is best known for his leadership of the Indianapolis Colts for seven years and in 2007 becoming the first African American to win the Super Bowl. In 2008, Dungy set a new NFL record for consecutive play-off appearances by a head coach.

After quarterbacking for the University of Minnesota, Tony Dungy began his NFL career as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1977-78) and San Francisco 49’ers (1979) before turning to coaching in 1980 at his alma mater, Minnesota.  In 1981, Dungy moved to the NFL, beginning with the Steelers (assistant and defensive coordinator), then the Chiefs in 1989 (defensive backs coach) and then the Vikings in 1992 (defensive coordinator).  In 1996, he was named head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he coached until 2001.

Since retiring from the Colts in early 2009, Dungy is now a prominent studio analyst on NBC’s Sunday Night Football show as well as a special consultant to the Commissioner of the NFL, and a two-time published author of the New York Times best-seller Quiet Strength (2007) and his latest, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance (2009). He is also a frequent speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 


Bobby Bowden Football Player of the Year Award
Colt McCoy, University of Texas

McCoy is a four year letterman, the 2009 Maxwell Award winner and a Heisman runner-up. He has a 3.2 GPA and is working on a degree in Sports Management.

FCA President and CEO, Les Steckel, said of this award and recipient, "While Colt McCoy’s athletic skills are clearly outstanding, as a young man, he is already an exemplary role model in  faith, character and community service, and it is an honor for FCA to recognize him with this prestigious award."  

Click here for the 2008 FCA Award Winners


Photos courtesy of University of Texas and University of Mississippi