In 2015, Eagle Football head coach Rob Tenyer (07) hired Milo Austin to be the team’s tight ends/slots coach and video coordinator. Three years later, Austin was promoted to associate head coach—the first at MSU since John Gilliam served in that capacity under longtime Head Coach Matt Ballard six years ago.
Now, Austin has been selected the Football Championship Subdivision Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
“It is truly an honor to be voted Assistant Coach of the Year,” said Austin. “To be in the same breath as such coaching greats who have received this achievement is very humbling.”
Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee. The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and 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.
The criteria for the award are not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all considered in the selection process. Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate their recognition.
Austin, a native of Prince Georges County, Maryland, has spent 11 years coaching college football, with the last four at Morehead State. An active member of the AFCA, Austin serves on the program committee and spoke during the Skills and Drills portion of the 2018 AFCA Convention in Charlotte.
In the community, he has volunteered for the Build-a-Bed project, which makes beds for underserved families in the local community. He founded and ran the Full Focus Foundation, a youth life-skills development program. As director of player development at the University of Cincinnati in 2010, Austin guided the “Cats in the Community” initiative and created the Cats Life Skills seminar program.
Austin has participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship with the St. Louis Rams in the summer of 2013 and coached at the Los Angeles Chargers’ preseason camp in 2018 as part of the minority fellowship program. He also coached Team USA at the 2018 FISU World Collegiate Games in Harbin, China, as part of a trip with Athletes in Action.
Finishing his fourth season with the Eagles in 2018, Austin served as a coach for the wide receivers and as co-special teams coordinator. He has mentored an all-conference or all-American performer in each year he has coached.
In his time at Morehead State, he helped mentor slot receiver and kick returner Jake Raymond to the school career records in receptions (272) and receiving yards (2,907) and guided Jarin Higginbotham, a 2018 senior, to record more than 2,000 career receiving yards.
He’s placing an emphasis on recruiting high character young men with a strong work ethic both on the field and in the classroom.
“We’ve got kids coming to MSU that want to be part of something special, they don’t want to miss out,” Austin said. “We’ve got some outstanding transfers and junior college players who are great young men and play the game the right way.”
Even with the accolades for his coaching abilities and giving back to his community, Austin said the goal for MSU Football is simple: make a run at the Pioneer League Championship. He regularly has one-on-one conversations with players to ensure everyone is laser focused.
“We all have to be dialed into the same goal. We’ve got to eliminate all distractions and work harder than we ever have,” he said. “Our guys are maturing, and we now have the depth to get it done. A championship is within our grasp. We want to accomplish something that guys will still be talking about 30 years from now.”
For more information about Eagle Football, visit www.msueagles.com.
