2025 35 Under 35 Participants Announced
December 9, 2024
The AFCA is pleased to announce the selections for its 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year’s class was chosen from a field of over 200 high-quality applicants.
First Name Last Name School Position
Matt Adkins University of Arizona Offensive Pass Game Coordinator, Tight Ends
Tyler Allen West Virginia University Quarterbacks
Ben Arbuckle University of Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Aaron Bohl University of Wyoming Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
Brayle Brown Colorado State University - Pueblo Offensive Coordinator
Mike Brown University of Notre Dame Wide Receivers
Andy Capone Weddington High School (NC) Head Coach
Ryan Clanton Iowa State University Offensive Run Game Coordinator, Offensive Line
AJ Cooper Oregon State University Inside Linebackers
Drew Davis University of St. Thomas Quarterbacks
Akeem Davis The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cornerbacks
Aaron Fierbaugh Liberty University Safeties
Will Fleming Lamar University Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Greg Holsworth Henderson State University Head Coach
Savon Huggins Boston College Running Backs
Ken Lamendola The United States Air Force Academy Inside Linebackers
Nick Lezynski Vanderbilt University Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Linebackers
Vince Luvara Hampden-Sydney College Head Coach
D'Anton Lynn University of Southern California Defensive Coordinator
Dexter McCoil Texas State University Defensive Coordinator
Conner McQueen University of the Incarnate Word Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Rod Ojong Indiana University Cornerbacks
Grant Olson North Dakota State University Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
Ryan Olson South Dakota State University Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line
Adam Pilapil Colorado State University Linebackers
Arthur Ray Jr Howard University Offensive Line
Marco Regalado The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Running Backs
James Ross University of Houston Defensive Ends, Outside Linebackers
Myles Russ Keiser University Head Coach
Ra'Shaad Samples University of Oregon Assistant Head Coach, Running Backs
Jericho Silvernail Long Beach City College Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends
Christian Smith Northwestern University Defensive Line
DeMarcus Van Dyke University of South Florida Cornerbacks
Stanton Weber University of Toledo Special Teams Coordinator
Kodi Whitfield University of California, Los Angeles Special Teams Coordinator, Cornerbacks
*Payton Gibbs Community School of Naples (FL) Defensive Analyst (Honorary Member)
The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Members of the AFCA 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute receive a stipend to assist with expenses incurred while attending the AFCA Convention. They will be published in the bi-monthly AFCA Magazine, AFCA Insider weekly email blast, and/or have their articles and videos added to the AFCA Educational Library. Additionally, participants will be placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee and become a part of a prestigious network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.
To be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1989, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach. Applicants were required to submit a resume, five references, and a 1,600-word article or ten-minute live instructional video on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant’s choosing back in the summer.
For those interested in applying for next year’s class, submissions for the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will run from July 1st to July 31st, 2025.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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The AFCA is pleased to announce the selections for its 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year’s class was chosen from a field of over 200 high-quality applicants.
First Name Last Name School Position
Matt Adkins University of Arizona Offensive Pass Game Coordinator, Tight Ends
Tyler Allen West Virginia University Quarterbacks
Ben Arbuckle University of Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Aaron Bohl University of Wyoming Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
Brayle Brown Colorado State University - Pueblo Offensive Coordinator
Mike Brown University of Notre Dame Wide Receivers
Andy Capone Weddington High School (NC) Head Coach
Ryan Clanton Iowa State University Offensive Run Game Coordinator, Offensive Line
AJ Cooper Oregon State University Inside Linebackers
Drew Davis University of St. Thomas Quarterbacks
Akeem Davis The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cornerbacks
Aaron Fierbaugh Liberty University Safeties
Will Fleming Lamar University Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Greg Holsworth Henderson State University Head Coach
Savon Huggins Boston College Running Backs
Ken Lamendola The United States Air Force Academy Inside Linebackers
Nick Lezynski Vanderbilt University Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Linebackers
Vince Luvara Hampden-Sydney College Head Coach
D'Anton Lynn University of Southern California Defensive Coordinator
Dexter McCoil Texas State University Defensive Coordinator
Conner McQueen University of the Incarnate Word Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Rod Ojong Indiana University Cornerbacks
Grant Olson North Dakota State University Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
Ryan Olson South Dakota State University Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line
Adam Pilapil Colorado State University Linebackers
Arthur Ray Jr Howard University Offensive Line
Marco Regalado The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Running Backs
James Ross University of Houston Defensive Ends, Outside Linebackers
Myles Russ Keiser University Head Coach
Ra'Shaad Samples University of Oregon Assistant Head Coach, Running Backs
Jericho Silvernail Long Beach City College Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends
Christian Smith Northwestern University Defensive Line
DeMarcus Van Dyke University of South Florida Cornerbacks
Stanton Weber University of Toledo Special Teams Coordinator
Kodi Whitfield University of California, Los Angeles Special Teams Coordinator, Cornerbacks
*Payton Gibbs Community School of Naples (FL) Defensive Analyst (Honorary Member)
The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Members of the AFCA 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute receive a stipend to assist with expenses incurred while attending the AFCA Convention. They will be published in the bi-monthly AFCA Magazine, AFCA Insider weekly email blast, and/or have their articles and videos added to the AFCA Educational Library. Additionally, participants will be placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee and become a part of a prestigious network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.
To be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1989, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach. Applicants were required to submit a resume, five references, and a 1,600-word article or ten-minute live instructional video on an offensive, defensive, special teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant’s choosing back in the summer.
For those interested in applying for next year’s class, submissions for the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will run from July 1st to July 31st, 2025.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
