College Sporting News Names Kramer FCS Coach of the Year

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- Idaho State football coach Mike Kramer has been named the Roy Kidd National Coach of the Year by the College Sporting News. Kramer was also named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year earlier in November.

Kramer became just the second coach in Division I history to earn Coach of the Year honors at three different schools in the same conference. Dennis Erickson was the first to accomplish the feat, claiming Coach of the Year honors at Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona State in the Pac-12.

Kramer previously won the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year honors at Eastern Washington in 1997, and at Montana State in 2002 and 2005. Kramer is just the third coach in league history to capture the honor four times. Boise State's Tony Knap won it in 1971, and from 1973-75. Nevada's Chris Ault won the award in 1983, 1986, 1990 and 1991.

Kramer guided the Bengals to their best season in more than a decade, compiling an 8-4 campaign. The eight victories marked a five-win improvement from the 2013 season. The eight wins matched the combined win total of the program from the previous five seasons.

Idaho State led the nation with an average of 348.1 passing yards per game, and finished second in total offense with an average of 562 yards per game.

Idaho State senior quarterback Justin Arias earned First-Team All-Conference honors and is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Arias leads the nation in passing yards (4,076) and passing touchdowns (38). Junior running back Xavier Finney, who also earned First Team All-Conference honors, rushed for single-season school record 1,495 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Madison Mangum, also a First Team All-Conference player, caught 83 passes for 1,234 yards and 10 touchdowns. Idaho State's allowed just 15 sacks despite 535 passing attempts.
 
On defense, the unit led the Big Sky Conference in interceptions with 19. Linebacker Mario Jenkins was named the Freshman of the Year and is a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award. Jenkins tallied 120 total tackles.