Waco, Texas – Head coach Mike Feminis of the No. 10 ranked Saint Xavier University football team (8-4, 5-0 MSFA Midwest) was named 2023 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NAIA Region Two Coach of the Year when the awards were announced Wednesday morning. It's the second time that Feminis has earned the honor, having also won the award in 2009. The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association's five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA. The winners are selected by active members of the Association who vote for coaches in the respective regions and divisions. The winners will be honored on Tuesday, January 9, during the 2024 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Coach Feminis guided the Cougars to their third consecutive Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League Championship and their sixth MSFA Midwest League crown in in the last seven season. After earning a bye in the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS), SXU defeated No. 5 Marian University (Ind.) 31-21 in the FCS Second Round before suffering a 34-17 setback to No. 1 Northwestern College (Iowa) in the quarterfinals.
 
It was the first quarterfinals appearance for Saint Xavier since 2019 when they lost to eventual national champion Morningside University (Iowa). It was also the first time since 2014 that the Cougars played in December, when they lost to eventual national champion Southern Oregon University in the semifinals on December 6, 2014.
SXU leads the NAIA with 53.0 quarterback sacks, is No. 5 in total tackles with 849, No. 6 in kick return average for 23.7 yards and tied for No. 7 in passing touchdowns with 30.

From coach Feminis, "This is a great honor, but I am very fortunate to have a tremendous coaching staff and a great group of guys who played their hearts out for each other all year. I couldn't be prouder."

Full list of winners:
2023 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
 
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: Mike Norvell, Florida State University
Region 2: Eliah Drinkwitz, University of Missouri
Region 3: David Braun, Northwestern University
Region 4: Jerry Kill, New Mexico State University
Region 5: Kalen DeBoer, University of Washington
 
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Greg Gattuso, University at Albany
Region 2: Clay Hendrix, Furman University
Region 3: *Willie Simmons, Florida A&M University
Region 4: Todd Stepsis, Drake University
Region 5: Bobby Hauck, University of Montana
 
Division II
Region 1: Jim Clements, Kutztown University
Region 2: *Chennis Berry, Benedict College
Region 3: Josh Lamberson, University of Central Missouri
Region 4: Paul Simmons, Harding University
Region 5: Pete Sterbick, Colorado School of Mines
 
Division III
Region 1: Curt Fitzpatrick, SUNY Cortland
Region 2: Greg Chimera, Johns Hopkins University
Region 3: Jerheme Urban, Trinity (Tex.) University
Region 4: *Jason Couch, Alma College
Region 5: Chris Winter, Wartburg College
 
NAIA
Region 1: Doug Socha, Keiser University
Region 2: Mike Feminis, Saint Xavier University
Region 3: Chuck Hepola, Evangel University
Region 4: *Matt McCarty, Northwestern College
Region 5: Drew Maddox, Louisiana Christian University
*-2022 winner