Illum Finalist for AFCA Asst. Coach of the Year
11/30/2009 11:56:52 AM
WACO, Texas – Former defensive coordinator Brenton Illum was one of three national finalists for the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award. Illum spent four seasons with the Mountaineers before accepting the head coaching position at Evangel University last week.
David Needs, the quarterbacks coach from national semifinalist Carson-Newman, won the annual honor. Illum was the only defensive coach to be a finalist.
Illum coached two All-RMAC student-athletes this season and his defense posted one of the best rushing defense performances in Division II at Colorado School of Mines. The Mountaineers were ranked in the top half of the conference in pass defense and pass defense efficiency and held opponents to less than 100 yards of rushing in four consecutive weeks.
Illum was also a four-year member of the NCAA Division II Assistant Coaches Committee.
First awarded in 1997, the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.