Spack Named A Finalist For 2024 Eddie Robinson Award

NORMAL, Ill. – For the third time in his career at Illinois State, head coach Brock Spack has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform Eddie Robinson Award which is presented annually to the national coach of the year in Division I FCS college football.

One of 15 national finalists for 2024, Spack was also up for the honor in 2012 and 2014. The award, first presented in 1987 and in its 38th season, is named for legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson. All 13 FCS leagues are represented by an Eddie Robinson Award finalist and the winner will be selected by a national voting panel and announced on Dec. 5. The winner will then be honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.

Spack led the Redbirds to a 9-3 overall record in 2024 and a 6-2 mark in Missouri Valley Football Conference play, which earned his squad the No. 12 national seed in the FCS Playoffs. Despite impactful injuries to key players throughout the year, the Redbirds were resilient all year and are back in playoffs for first time since 2019. Illinois State will be making its ninth appearance in the FCS playoffs (1998, 1999, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2024) and sixth under the leadership of Spack. 

Now in his 16th season as the head coach at Illinois State (110-73), Spack became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021 and has guided the Redbirds to a pair of Missouri Valley Football Conference championships in 2014 and 2015. Since Spack took over the program in 2009, the Redbirds have posted 13 seasons with .500 or better campaigns, including a 13-2 mark in 2014 on way to the FCS National Championship game. 

With his win at Missouri State on Nov. 4, 2023, Spack recorded his 100th at Illinois State making him just the fourth coach in MVFC history with 100 or more wins at a league school. He also currently ranks third all-time with 70 conference wins, behind only Mark Farley of UNI and John Stiegelmeier of South Dakota State on the list.

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