AFCA RELEASE
ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—Bethel University head football coach Mike McElroy was named 2025 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year. McElroy's first career AFCA Region Coach of the Year comes on the heels of being named MIAC Football Coach of the Year.
McElroy has accumulated a 21-3 career record in his second season with the Royals. He led Bethel to their third undefeated regular season in program history, and first since 2013 with a 10-0 record in 2025. It resulted in Bethel's seventh MIAC Championship, and 13th overall appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship.
The Royals will host Coe in the NCAA Division III Championship Second Round on Saturday, November 29 at 12 p.m.
2025 AFCA Region Coaches of the Year Recipients
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: Brent Key, Georgia Tech
Region 2: *Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Region 3: *Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Region 4: Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
Region 5: Timmy Chang, Hawaii
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Kevin Cahill, Lehigh
Region 2: Bobby Wilder, Tennessee Tech
Region 3: Joel Taylor, West Georgia
Region 4: Steve Englehart, Presbyterian
Region 5: Bobby Hauck, Montana
Division IIÂ
Region 1: #Jim Clements, Kutztown
Region 2: Kaleb Nobles, West Florida
Region 3: John McMenamin, Northwest Missouri State
Region 4: Chris Fisk, Central Washington
Region 5: Jay Long, Chadron State
 Division III
Region 1: C.C. Grant, Coast Guard
Region 2: Dan Wodicka, Johns Hopkins
Region 3: Tony Kunczewski, Berry
Region 4: Brad Spencer, North Central
Region 5: Mike McElroy, Bethel (Minn.)
NAIA
Region 1: *Myles Russ, Keiser
Region 2: Ted Karras, Marian
Region 3: Joel Osborn, Benedictine (Kan.)
Region 4: Joel Penner, Dordt
Region 5: Kyle Samson, Montana TechÂ
*-2024 winner
#-2023 and 2024 winner
