Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Football
Stockstill, Rick
Rick Stockstill
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- kim.spurlock@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 904-8214
Updated: November 26, 2023
Winning on the field, off the field and having a first-class football program from top to bottom is the goal of any university at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. That is exactly what Middle Tennessee has as a result of the leadership of head coach Rick Stockstill.
After completing his 18th season at the helm of the Blue Raiders in 2023, Stockstill ranks as the fourth-longest tenured coach in the country and third-longest in MT history. With his long tenure have come numerous achievements and accolades, including:
Along with a pandemic, the 2021 season was filled with adversity but Stockstill’s Blue Raiders simply found a way. Faced with using their fourth string quarterback, the Blue Raiders won five of their last seven games including the Bahamas Bowl.
The leader of the Blue Raiders was crowned the 2018 CUSA Coach of the Year and the TSWA Coach of the Year after winning the East Division title and making the C-USA Championship game. MT advanced to the New Orleans Bowl for its school-record fourth straight post season appearance.
Stockstill and the Blue Raiders went to Montgomery, Alabama and took down Arkansas State for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl championship in 2017, the first time in program history they played in bowl games in three successive seasons. It was also the seventh bowl game for MT under Stockstill’s guidance and second win, joining the 2009 New Orleans Bowl title.
The bowl game victory came after a tough season in which the Raiders were hampered with numerous injuries, including to quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver Richie James. But, Coach Stockstill and his blue-clad men weren’t strangers to pulling a feat while injured. In 2016, the Blue Raiders earned an 8-5 record, their third in five seasons, and berth in the Hawaii Bowl even after the team lost a handful of receivers before the season and Brent Stockstill midway through. They still placed five players on the CUSA First Team and Ty Lee on several Freshman All-American lists.
The first of the four-year bowl streak came in 2015, when MT held a 7-6 record and Popeyes Bahamas Bowl berth. The Blue Raiders had to show a tremendous amount of grit to become bowl eligible, winning all four games in November.
Prior to the three years finishing in bowl games, Stockstill led Middle Tennessee to three straight second-place finishes in the CUSA East Division from 2012-14, including a berth in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in 2013 against Navy.
Some regard the 2012 season as his best coaching job after leading the Blue Raiders to the nation’s biggest win improvement from the previous year. They won just two games in 2011, but Stockstill turned the 2012 MT squad around, finishing with an 8-4 record that included an FBS school-record five road wins. They also received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll three straight weeks, another school record, and upset ACC Coastal Division Champion Georgia Tech. Along the way, he produced a Freshman All-American, eight all-conference players and a national offensive player of the week.
The two-win 2011 campaign was preceded by two straight seasons with bowl appearances, the first time MT had ever accomplished that feat. Before falling to Miami (OH) in the 2010 GoDaddy.com Bowl, Stockstill and the Blue Raiders experienced maybe the best season in school history at the Division I-A level in 2009. They won a school FBS-record 10 games and finished ranked 33rd nationally in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, and Stockstill was named Sun Belt Co-Coach of the Year prior to beating Southern Miss 42-32 in the New Orleans Bowl, MT’s first bowl victory at the FBS level. A total of 11 players earned all-conference honors that year, including Co-Defensive Player of the Year Chris McCoy and quarterback Dwight Dasher, who earned New Orleans Bowl MVP honors and became just the fourth player in NCAA history to pass for more than 2,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.
The 10-win season in 2009 matched the win total for MT in the two years prior, Stockstill’s second and third campaigns as head man of the Raiders. Those followed a big first year for Stockstill, when in 2006 he took his first Middle Tennessee squad to the Motor City Bowl, its first FBS bowl appearance, after being named Co-Sun Belt champions with a 6-1 league record. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
Stockstill’s teams have amassed the top five tackles for loss and quarterback sack totals in school history, and he has produced the conference’s top touchdown scorer three times. Individual players have 159 all-conference honors, 21 all-freshman honorees, three conference player of the year awards, six different national player of the week awards and a league freshman of the year.
Throughout his 18-season tenure, Stockstill has also shown a commitment to academics. The Blue Raiders have registered a Graduation Success Rate of 95 percent the last three years and all scores have ranked in the top five nationally among all FBS schools.
Prior to being named the head man at Middle Tennessee, Stockstil spent 23 years as an assistant coach, where he had the advantage of working alongside some of the greatest minds in college football history, including legendary coaches Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Danny Ford, Tommy Bowden, Ken Hatfield, Larry Little and Tommy West.
He made his way to Murfreesboro after spending the previous two years at South Carolina, where he joined the Gamecock staff in December 2003 and immediately made an impact in recruiting. Stockstill coached the Gamecock tight ends and served as recruiting coordinator in 2005. He was the wide receivers coach in 2004.
In addition to his on-field coaching at Carolina, Stockstill coordinated the signing of a top-20 recruiting class for the Gamecocks in his first season and was recognized as one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation by Rivals.com.
Before joining Holtz’s staff at South Carolina, Stockstill was the offensive coordinator at East Carolina in 2003.
From 1989 to 2002, he was on the coaching staff at Clemson, where he helped lead the Tigers to some of their most proficient offensive performances in school history. He served in a variety of capacities during his tenure, working as recruiting coordinator, wide receivers coach, co-offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and quarterback’s coach. Stockstill played an integral role in Clemson’s offense, which set more than 100 school records from 1998 to 2002.
Stockstill also has coaching experience at the University of Central Florida (1985-88) and at Bethune-Cookman College (1983-84).
Born Dec. 23, 1957 in Sidney, Ohio, Stockstill grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky, and then moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida, where he was inducted into the Fernandina Beach Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a three-year letterman at Florida State as a quarterback, where he was team captain and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in 1981 under Coach Bobby Bowden. During his career at FSU, the Seminoles had two top-10 final Associated Press rankings and had wins against powers Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Ohio State and Nebraska. Stockstill, who received his bachelor’s degree from FSU in 1982, made three bowl trips with the Seminoles. He was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2019.
Stockstill and his wife, the former Sara Fleischman, have a son, Brent, a daughter, Emily, and a granddaughter, Skye.
THE STOCKSTILL FILE
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Season as Head Coach: 18th
Record at MT/Overall: 113-111/same
Date Hired: Dec. 12, 2005
PERSONAL
Birthdate: Dec. 23, 1957
Hometown: Fernandina Beach, FL
Spouse: the former Sara Fleischman
Children: Brent and Emily
Parents: Joel Stockstill and the late Kris Stockstill
EDUCATION
High School: Fernandina Beach, 1977
College: Florida State, B.S. Physical Ed., 1982
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Quarterback at Florida State, 1977-82 (Honorable Mention All-American; played in three bowl games, and the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Japan Bowl)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
1983-84: Bethune-Cookman (Off. Coord./QB)
1985-88: UCF (Asst. Head Coach/WR)
1989-92: Clemson (Quarterbacks)
1993: Clemson (QBs/Passing Game Coord.)
1994-95: Clemson (Co-Offensive Coord./WR)
1996-98: Clemson (Wide Receivers)
1999-2002: Clemson (WR/Recruiting Coord.)
2003: East Carolina (Offensive Coord./QB)
2004: South Carolina (WR/Recruiting Coord.)
2005: South Carolina (TE/Recruiting Coord.)
2006-Present: MT (Head Coach)
HONORS
2004: Named a top 25 recruiter by Rivals.com
2006: Named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year
2006: Named TSWA Coach of Year
2006: ESPN.com’s Sun Belt Coach of Year
2009: Named Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year
2009: Named TSWA Coach of Year
2018: Named C-USA Coach of Year
2018: Named TSWA Coach of the Year
NOTEWORTHY
Has coached with or played under the likes of Bobby Bowden, Tommy Bowden, Danny Ford, Ken Hatfield, Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Tommy West and NFL Hall of Famer Larry Little ... In 2009, MT became the first SBC team to ever win 10 games.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER STOCKSTILL
2022 – Engineered MTSU’s first-ever win over a Top 25 team (#25 Miami) and a Hawai’I Bowl win
2022 – GSR score of 95 percent ranked T5th best nationally
2022 – Coached a Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski National Player of the Week winner
2021 – Led MT to a Bahamas Bowl win
2021 – GSR score of 95 percent ranked 5th best nationally
2020 – GSR score of 95 percent tied for 3rd best nationally
2019 – GSR score of 95 percent tied for 3rd best nationally
2019 – Inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame
2018 – Led MT to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl for its fourth bowl game in a row, a school record
2018 – Led team to 7-1 CUSA record and first East Division title
2018 – Led team to CUSA Championship game for first time
2018 – Coached team’s first C-USA Most Valuable Player
2018 – Named CUSA and TSWA Coach of the Year
2017 – Led team to the Camellia Bowl title and an upset of Syracuse
2017 – Led team to bowl game for third year in a row for first time in program history
2016 – Led team to the Hawaii Bowl and an upset of Missouri
2015 – Led team to the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl and produced two Freshman All-Americans
2014 – Led team to bowl eligibility for the fifth time in six years
2013 – Led team to Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl for fourth bowl under Stockstill
2013 – Team became first in 21 years to win eight games in back-to-back seasons
2012 – Engineered the nation’s biggest win improvement at plus-six
2012 – Led Raiders to 21-point upset win at ACC Coastal Division Champ Georgia Tech
2012 – Led MT to FBS-record five road wins
2012 – MT received votes in ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll three straight weeks, a school record
2011 – New single-game home attendance record set against Georgia Tech
2010 – Led team to GoDaddy.com Bowl for third bowl under Stockstill
2010 – Coached school’s third Academic All-American (Jeremy Kellem)
2010 – Coached the SBC Defensive Player of the Year (Jamari Lattimore)
2010 – Inducted as honorary member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
2009 – Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year
2009 – TSWA Coach of the Year
2009 – Team became first in Sun Belt history to win 10 games
2009 – Led team to New Orleans Bowl Championship
2009 – Team had school-record 7 Sun Belt Conference wins
2009 – Coached the SBC Defensive Player of the Year (Chris McCoy)
2009 – Coached the New Orleans Bowl MVP (Dwight Dasher)
2009 – Team set new single-season records in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss
2008 – Set new single-season Floyd Stadium attendance record
2008 – Coached a Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week winner
2008 – Quarterback was given the National ESPN Helmet Sticker Award
2006 – Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year (first conference COY at MT since 1989)
2006 – Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year by ESPN.com
2006 – TSWA Coach of the Year
2006 – Rutherford County Reader Gridiron Glacier Award
2006 – Sun Belt Conference Championship
2006 – Led school to first-ever bowl game in the I-A era (Motor City)
2006 – One of just 10 teams in the country to win four road conference games
2006 – Coached a Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski National Player of the Week winner
2006 – Seven wins were most by a first-year coach at MT since 1947
2006 – Coached the ESPN.com SBC Defensive Player of the Year
2006 – Set new single-season attendance record
2007, 2008 and 2010 Intercultural and Diversity Coach of the Year
Improved team’s APR dramatically from 892 to 992
APR of 992 in 2013-14 was seventh highest in the nation
APR multi rate of 984 in 2016-17 tied for 14th nationally and was 4th among Group of 5
Team won 2006-07 and 2007-08 Sun Belt Conference Academic Award
47 First Team All-Conference selections in 18 years
88 Conference Player of the Week winners
Six NFL Draft picks (one each in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2018)
Blue Raiders named National Team of the Week by CollegeSportsReport.com on Oct. 14, 2007
BOWL GAMES AS A COACH (22)
Year School Title Record Bowl
2022 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-5 Hawai’i Bowl
2021 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Bahamas Bowl
2018 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-6 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
2017 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Camellia Bowl
2016 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-5 Hawai’i Bowl
2015 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
2013 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-5 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
2011 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 6-7 GoDaddy.com
2009 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 10-3 New Orleans
2006 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Motor City
2005 South Carolina Assistant Coach 7-5 Independence
2002 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-6 Tangerine
2001 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Humanitarian
2001 Clemson Assistant Coach 9-3 Gator
1999 Clemson Assistant Coach 6-6 Peach
1998 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Peach
1996 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Peach
1996 Clemson Assistant Coach 8-4 Gator
1993 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Peach
1992 Clemson Assistant Coach 9-2-1 Citrus
1991 Clemson Assistant Coach 10-2 Hall of Fame
1989 Clemson Assistant Coach 10-2 Gator
BOWL GAMES AS A PLAYER (3)
1977 Florida State Tangerine
1980 Florida State Orange
1981 Florida State Orange
Winning on the field, off the field and having a first-class football program from top to bottom is the goal of any university at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. That is exactly what Middle Tennessee has as a result of the leadership of head coach Rick Stockstill.
After completing his 18th season at the helm of the Blue Raiders in 2023, Stockstill ranks as the fourth-longest tenured coach in the country and third-longest in MT history. With his long tenure have come numerous achievements and accolades, including:
- Six-time Coach of the Year (2006 SBC, 2009 co-SBC, 2018 C-USA, 3-time TSWA)
- 2018 CUSA East Division champions
- 2006 Sun Belt co-champions
- 2009 New Orleans Bowl, 2017 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, 2021 Bahamas Bowl and 2022 Hawai’i Bowl champions
- 113 wins, third all-time in program history
- Ranks 6th nationally in most wins by an active FBS coach all coming at the same school
- 10 bowl appearances and bowl eligible 12 times
- Two NCAA awards for APR success (2011, 2012)
- American Football Coaches Association's 2017 Academic Achievement Award
- Back-to-back eight-win seasons in 2012-13 for first time in 21 years
- Four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 for first time in program history
- Six of the top eight crowds in Floyd Stadium history, including top three
- 10 All-Americans, including one Academic All-American
- One overall conference player of the year and three defensive players of the year
- Produced 47 First Team All-Conference honors
- Seven bowl game MVPs
- Six NFL Draft picks and a pro bowler
- Produced the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, receptions, tackles, sacks and interceptions
- 2018 recipient of the Grant Teaff "Breaking the Silence" Award
Along with a pandemic, the 2021 season was filled with adversity but Stockstill’s Blue Raiders simply found a way. Faced with using their fourth string quarterback, the Blue Raiders won five of their last seven games including the Bahamas Bowl.
The leader of the Blue Raiders was crowned the 2018 CUSA Coach of the Year and the TSWA Coach of the Year after winning the East Division title and making the C-USA Championship game. MT advanced to the New Orleans Bowl for its school-record fourth straight post season appearance.
Stockstill and the Blue Raiders went to Montgomery, Alabama and took down Arkansas State for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl championship in 2017, the first time in program history they played in bowl games in three successive seasons. It was also the seventh bowl game for MT under Stockstill’s guidance and second win, joining the 2009 New Orleans Bowl title.
The bowl game victory came after a tough season in which the Raiders were hampered with numerous injuries, including to quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver Richie James. But, Coach Stockstill and his blue-clad men weren’t strangers to pulling a feat while injured. In 2016, the Blue Raiders earned an 8-5 record, their third in five seasons, and berth in the Hawaii Bowl even after the team lost a handful of receivers before the season and Brent Stockstill midway through. They still placed five players on the CUSA First Team and Ty Lee on several Freshman All-American lists.
The first of the four-year bowl streak came in 2015, when MT held a 7-6 record and Popeyes Bahamas Bowl berth. The Blue Raiders had to show a tremendous amount of grit to become bowl eligible, winning all four games in November.
Prior to the three years finishing in bowl games, Stockstill led Middle Tennessee to three straight second-place finishes in the CUSA East Division from 2012-14, including a berth in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in 2013 against Navy.
Some regard the 2012 season as his best coaching job after leading the Blue Raiders to the nation’s biggest win improvement from the previous year. They won just two games in 2011, but Stockstill turned the 2012 MT squad around, finishing with an 8-4 record that included an FBS school-record five road wins. They also received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll three straight weeks, another school record, and upset ACC Coastal Division Champion Georgia Tech. Along the way, he produced a Freshman All-American, eight all-conference players and a national offensive player of the week.
The two-win 2011 campaign was preceded by two straight seasons with bowl appearances, the first time MT had ever accomplished that feat. Before falling to Miami (OH) in the 2010 GoDaddy.com Bowl, Stockstill and the Blue Raiders experienced maybe the best season in school history at the Division I-A level in 2009. They won a school FBS-record 10 games and finished ranked 33rd nationally in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, and Stockstill was named Sun Belt Co-Coach of the Year prior to beating Southern Miss 42-32 in the New Orleans Bowl, MT’s first bowl victory at the FBS level. A total of 11 players earned all-conference honors that year, including Co-Defensive Player of the Year Chris McCoy and quarterback Dwight Dasher, who earned New Orleans Bowl MVP honors and became just the fourth player in NCAA history to pass for more than 2,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.
The 10-win season in 2009 matched the win total for MT in the two years prior, Stockstill’s second and third campaigns as head man of the Raiders. Those followed a big first year for Stockstill, when in 2006 he took his first Middle Tennessee squad to the Motor City Bowl, its first FBS bowl appearance, after being named Co-Sun Belt champions with a 6-1 league record. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
Stockstill’s teams have amassed the top five tackles for loss and quarterback sack totals in school history, and he has produced the conference’s top touchdown scorer three times. Individual players have 159 all-conference honors, 21 all-freshman honorees, three conference player of the year awards, six different national player of the week awards and a league freshman of the year.
Throughout his 18-season tenure, Stockstill has also shown a commitment to academics. The Blue Raiders have registered a Graduation Success Rate of 95 percent the last three years and all scores have ranked in the top five nationally among all FBS schools.
Prior to being named the head man at Middle Tennessee, Stockstil spent 23 years as an assistant coach, where he had the advantage of working alongside some of the greatest minds in college football history, including legendary coaches Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Danny Ford, Tommy Bowden, Ken Hatfield, Larry Little and Tommy West.
He made his way to Murfreesboro after spending the previous two years at South Carolina, where he joined the Gamecock staff in December 2003 and immediately made an impact in recruiting. Stockstill coached the Gamecock tight ends and served as recruiting coordinator in 2005. He was the wide receivers coach in 2004.
In addition to his on-field coaching at Carolina, Stockstill coordinated the signing of a top-20 recruiting class for the Gamecocks in his first season and was recognized as one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation by Rivals.com.
Before joining Holtz’s staff at South Carolina, Stockstill was the offensive coordinator at East Carolina in 2003.
From 1989 to 2002, he was on the coaching staff at Clemson, where he helped lead the Tigers to some of their most proficient offensive performances in school history. He served in a variety of capacities during his tenure, working as recruiting coordinator, wide receivers coach, co-offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and quarterback’s coach. Stockstill played an integral role in Clemson’s offense, which set more than 100 school records from 1998 to 2002.
Stockstill also has coaching experience at the University of Central Florida (1985-88) and at Bethune-Cookman College (1983-84).
Born Dec. 23, 1957 in Sidney, Ohio, Stockstill grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky, and then moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida, where he was inducted into the Fernandina Beach Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a three-year letterman at Florida State as a quarterback, where he was team captain and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in 1981 under Coach Bobby Bowden. During his career at FSU, the Seminoles had two top-10 final Associated Press rankings and had wins against powers Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Ohio State and Nebraska. Stockstill, who received his bachelor’s degree from FSU in 1982, made three bowl trips with the Seminoles. He was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2019.
Stockstill and his wife, the former Sara Fleischman, have a son, Brent, a daughter, Emily, and a granddaughter, Skye.
THE STOCKSTILL FILE
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Season as Head Coach: 18th
Record at MT/Overall: 113-111/same
Date Hired: Dec. 12, 2005
PERSONAL
Birthdate: Dec. 23, 1957
Hometown: Fernandina Beach, FL
Spouse: the former Sara Fleischman
Children: Brent and Emily
Parents: Joel Stockstill and the late Kris Stockstill
EDUCATION
High School: Fernandina Beach, 1977
College: Florida State, B.S. Physical Ed., 1982
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Quarterback at Florida State, 1977-82 (Honorable Mention All-American; played in three bowl games, and the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Japan Bowl)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
1983-84: Bethune-Cookman (Off. Coord./QB)
1985-88: UCF (Asst. Head Coach/WR)
1989-92: Clemson (Quarterbacks)
1993: Clemson (QBs/Passing Game Coord.)
1994-95: Clemson (Co-Offensive Coord./WR)
1996-98: Clemson (Wide Receivers)
1999-2002: Clemson (WR/Recruiting Coord.)
2003: East Carolina (Offensive Coord./QB)
2004: South Carolina (WR/Recruiting Coord.)
2005: South Carolina (TE/Recruiting Coord.)
2006-Present: MT (Head Coach)
HONORS
2004: Named a top 25 recruiter by Rivals.com
2006: Named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year
2006: Named TSWA Coach of Year
2006: ESPN.com’s Sun Belt Coach of Year
2009: Named Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year
2009: Named TSWA Coach of Year
2018: Named C-USA Coach of Year
2018: Named TSWA Coach of the Year
NOTEWORTHY
Has coached with or played under the likes of Bobby Bowden, Tommy Bowden, Danny Ford, Ken Hatfield, Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Tommy West and NFL Hall of Famer Larry Little ... In 2009, MT became the first SBC team to ever win 10 games.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER STOCKSTILL
2022 – Engineered MTSU’s first-ever win over a Top 25 team (#25 Miami) and a Hawai’I Bowl win
2022 – GSR score of 95 percent ranked T5th best nationally
2022 – Coached a Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski National Player of the Week winner
2021 – Led MT to a Bahamas Bowl win
2021 – GSR score of 95 percent ranked 5th best nationally
2020 – GSR score of 95 percent tied for 3rd best nationally
2019 – GSR score of 95 percent tied for 3rd best nationally
2019 – Inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame
2018 – Led MT to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl for its fourth bowl game in a row, a school record
2018 – Led team to 7-1 CUSA record and first East Division title
2018 – Led team to CUSA Championship game for first time
2018 – Coached team’s first C-USA Most Valuable Player
2018 – Named CUSA and TSWA Coach of the Year
2017 – Led team to the Camellia Bowl title and an upset of Syracuse
2017 – Led team to bowl game for third year in a row for first time in program history
2016 – Led team to the Hawaii Bowl and an upset of Missouri
2015 – Led team to the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl and produced two Freshman All-Americans
2014 – Led team to bowl eligibility for the fifth time in six years
2013 – Led team to Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl for fourth bowl under Stockstill
2013 – Team became first in 21 years to win eight games in back-to-back seasons
2012 – Engineered the nation’s biggest win improvement at plus-six
2012 – Led Raiders to 21-point upset win at ACC Coastal Division Champ Georgia Tech
2012 – Led MT to FBS-record five road wins
2012 – MT received votes in ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll three straight weeks, a school record
2011 – New single-game home attendance record set against Georgia Tech
2010 – Led team to GoDaddy.com Bowl for third bowl under Stockstill
2010 – Coached school’s third Academic All-American (Jeremy Kellem)
2010 – Coached the SBC Defensive Player of the Year (Jamari Lattimore)
2010 – Inducted as honorary member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
2009 – Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year
2009 – TSWA Coach of the Year
2009 – Team became first in Sun Belt history to win 10 games
2009 – Led team to New Orleans Bowl Championship
2009 – Team had school-record 7 Sun Belt Conference wins
2009 – Coached the SBC Defensive Player of the Year (Chris McCoy)
2009 – Coached the New Orleans Bowl MVP (Dwight Dasher)
2009 – Team set new single-season records in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss
2008 – Set new single-season Floyd Stadium attendance record
2008 – Coached a Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week winner
2008 – Quarterback was given the National ESPN Helmet Sticker Award
2006 – Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year (first conference COY at MT since 1989)
2006 – Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year by ESPN.com
2006 – TSWA Coach of the Year
2006 – Rutherford County Reader Gridiron Glacier Award
2006 – Sun Belt Conference Championship
2006 – Led school to first-ever bowl game in the I-A era (Motor City)
2006 – One of just 10 teams in the country to win four road conference games
2006 – Coached a Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski National Player of the Week winner
2006 – Seven wins were most by a first-year coach at MT since 1947
2006 – Coached the ESPN.com SBC Defensive Player of the Year
2006 – Set new single-season attendance record
2007, 2008 and 2010 Intercultural and Diversity Coach of the Year
Improved team’s APR dramatically from 892 to 992
APR of 992 in 2013-14 was seventh highest in the nation
APR multi rate of 984 in 2016-17 tied for 14th nationally and was 4th among Group of 5
Team won 2006-07 and 2007-08 Sun Belt Conference Academic Award
47 First Team All-Conference selections in 18 years
88 Conference Player of the Week winners
Six NFL Draft picks (one each in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2018)
Blue Raiders named National Team of the Week by CollegeSportsReport.com on Oct. 14, 2007
BOWL GAMES AS A COACH (22)
Year School Title Record Bowl
2022 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-5 Hawai’i Bowl
2021 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Bahamas Bowl
2018 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-6 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
2017 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Camellia Bowl
2016 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-5 Hawai’i Bowl
2015 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
2013 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 8-5 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
2011 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 6-7 GoDaddy.com
2009 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 10-3 New Orleans
2006 Middle Tennessee Head Coach 7-6 Motor City
2005 South Carolina Assistant Coach 7-5 Independence
2002 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-6 Tangerine
2001 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Humanitarian
2001 Clemson Assistant Coach 9-3 Gator
1999 Clemson Assistant Coach 6-6 Peach
1998 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Peach
1996 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Peach
1996 Clemson Assistant Coach 8-4 Gator
1993 Clemson Assistant Coach 7-5 Peach
1992 Clemson Assistant Coach 9-2-1 Citrus
1991 Clemson Assistant Coach 10-2 Hall of Fame
1989 Clemson Assistant Coach 10-2 Gator
BOWL GAMES AS A PLAYER (3)
1977 Florida State Tangerine
1980 Florida State Orange
1981 Florida State Orange
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