Coach of the Year Candidate List Includes UC Davis’ Dan Hawkins

Nov 19, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Feb 27, 2020, 10:02 am

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Dan Hawkins of the UC Davis Aggies looks on during pregame...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins is one of 15 coaches selected on Monday as finalists for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the national coach of the year.

Coach Hawkins is the first UC Davis finalist for this award, and joins a list of Aggies who are also nominated for the FCS’ top individual awards. Senior sociology major Keelan Doss and junior communication Jake Maier are finalists for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the most outstanding offensive player in the nation; senior American studies major Mason Moe is up for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the FCS’ defensive player of the year; biochemistry and molecular biology major Ulonzo Gilliam is vying for the Jerry Rice Award, bestowed to the FCS freshman player of the year.

In his second year leading his alma mater’s team, UC Davis enjoyed its most successful season as a Division I program, one that will continue on Dec. 1 when the Aggies host the winner of Saturday’s Northern Iowa-Lamar matchup in the Aggies’ first-ever FCS playoff game.

As the sixth-ranked team in this year’s FCS playoff field, as announced by the NCAA in last weekend’s selection show, UC Davis will enjoy a bye this week before hosting the program’s first postseason game against the winner of Saturday’s Northern Iowa-Lamar matchup.

The 100th season of football began with Hawkins leading the Aggies to their third win in program history against a FBS team when they defeated San José State in the first game of the year.

A six-game win streak, undefeated regular season home record, the highest national ranking (#4), and top 10 rankings in both national polls were also program firsts, earned under Hawkins’ tutelage. Combined with UC Davis’ first victory over FCS powerhouse Montana — on its own turf — victories in the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe and Causeway Classic, the program’s records book will enjoy a severe overhaul heading into next season.

Last weekend, UC Davis won its inaugural Big Sky title, which led to its first-ever FCS postseason appearance — a game that will take place on Dec. 1 at Aggie Stadium. Do not miss this opportunity to witness history firsthand, secure your seats for this playoff contest today!

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