The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has selected Holy Cross football head coach Bob Chesney as the 2022 FCS Region 1 Coach of the Year.

Under Chesney's guidance, the 2022 Crusaders (12-0) have recorded the most single-season wins in program history and have advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983.

The Crusaders will face South Dakota State in a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, Dec. 10. The game will be televised at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Holy Cross earned a first-round bye and the eight seed in this year's FCS playoffs – its fourth straight trip to the postseason – and defeated New Hampshire, 35-19, in the second round on Dec. 3.

This season, the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston named Chesney its Head Coach of the Year, while Chesney was also selected as one of 16 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented to the national coach of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. In addition, the New England Football Writers have named Chesney the New England Coach of the Year for the University division.

Also named the 2022 Patriot League Coach of the Year, Chesney helped guide Holy Cross to its first undefeated regular season in 31 years and third 11-0 regular season in program history, joining the 1987 and 1991 squads as the only Crusader teams to accomplish the feat. The 2022 Crusaders became the first Patriot League team ever to win four consecutive outright conference titles; under Chesney's guidance, Holy Cross has won 16 straight regular-season contests and 17 consecutive Patriot League games.

The season had numerous marquee wins, including a Hail Mary victory against FBS foe Buffalo and an overtime win over nationally ranked Fordham; the Crusaders also earned their first win at Harvard since 2000 and defeated Harvard and Yale in the same season for the first time in program history. 

In his five seasons at Holy Cross, Chesney has compiled a 37-16 record. He earned his 100^th career win as a head coach on Oct. 29 against Fordham, and owns a 104-41 record in 13 seasons as a head coach.

This is the first time in Chesney's career he has been named the FCS Region 1 Coach of the Year. The AFCA?will announce the 2022 National Coaches of the Year winners in FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA on Monday, January 9. The regional winners in each division are finalists for National Coach of the Year.

2022 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners
Football Bowl Subdivision
Region 1: Willie Fritz, Tulane University
Region 2: Josh Heupel, University of Tennessee
Region 3: Jim Harbaugh, University of Michigan
Region 4: Sonny Dykes, TCU
Region 5: Jonathan Smith, Oregon State University
 
Football Championship Subdivision
Region 1: Bob Chesney, College of the Holy Cross
Region 2: Chris Hatcher, Samford University
Region 3: Willie Simmons, Florida A&M University
Region 4: John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State University
Region 5: Troy Taylor, Sacramento State
 
Division II
Region 1: Ernie McCook, Shepherd University
Region 2: Chennis Berry, Benedict College
Region 3: Matt Mitchell, Grand Valley State University
Region 4: Todd Knight, Ouachita Baptist University
Region 5: Brandon Moore, Colorado School of Mines
 
Division III
Region 1: Mike Toerper, Ithaca College
Region 2: Ryan Larsen, Carnegie Mellon University
Region 3: Larry Harmon, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Region 4: Jason Couch, Alma College
Region 5: Steve Johnson, Bethel University (Minn.)
 
NAIA
Region 1: Mike Jasper, Bethel University (Tenn.)
Region 2: Jordan Langs, Indiana Wesleyan University
Region 3: Joe Woodley, Grand View University
Region 4: Matt McCarty, Northwestern College
Region 5: Troy Purcell, Carroll College (Mont.)

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