Joel Osborn Named 2025 AFCA-NAIA Coach of the Year
Benedictine College head football coach Joel Osborn has been named the 2025 AFCA-NAIA Coach of the Year, as announced Dec. 15 by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA Coach of the Year honor is selected by a vote of active AFCA members at four-year institutions and has been awarded annually since 1935. It is the oldest coach of the year award in college football and the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.
Osborn earned his first national AFCA honor after leading Benedictine to its fourth consecutive Heart of America Athletic Conference South Division title and the program's second straight appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series semifinals. The Ravens finished the 2025 season with a 12-2 record and an outright Heart South championship.
In five seasons as head coach, Osborn has guided Benedictine to an overall record of 50-14, including four Heart South titles. In addition to the national honor, Osborn was also named the Heart South Coach of the Year and AFCA-NAIA Region 3 Coach of the Year during the 2025 season.