At the FCA Breakfast  on Jan. 11 at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention in San Antonio, Texas, FCA honored University of North Carolina head football coach Larry Fedora with the 2015 Grant Teaff Coach of the Year Award and 40-year football coaching legend Joe Taylor with the 2015 Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award. 

“Fellowship of Christian Athletes has honored two outstanding coaches who have impacted countless players over their successful careers,” said Les Steckel, President and CEO of FCA. “We congratulate Larry Fedora and Joe Taylor for not only their accomplishments on the field, but also for the way they have touched the lives of countless young athletes—all for the glory of God.”

2015 Grant Teaff Coach of the Year Award  winner Larry Fedora

Under Larry Fedora’s leadership, the Tar Heels chalked up 11 straight wins this season to take the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division Championship. UNC fell to an undefeated Clemson team, who ultimately was defeated by the powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide last night in the National Championship game.

After the honors, Fedora said, “My faith is extremely important in my life. It’s safe to say I would not be the head coach at UNC if not for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I don’t try to hide my faith and I don’t try to hide it in the program either. I really believe when these players come to Carolina, my responsibility is to see them grow academically, socially and spiritually.”

This season, UNC set more than 60 school records, and Fedora’s future at UNC is solid, as the coach signed a seven-year contract with UNC before the ACC Championship game. Last night, Fedora was one of five head coaches who were part of the National Championship game broadcast by ESPN2 as part of the network’s Megacast. Other coaches included Florida’s Jim McElwain, Southern Florida’s Willie Taggart, Pittsburgh’s Pat Narduzzi and South Carolina’s new head coach Will Muschamp.

In his fourth season at UNC, Fedora has the same energy and passion as the day he accepted the job.

“I’m a believer that nothing great can be accomplished without energy and a passion for what you believe in,” he says.  “We’re building this program and every day we are striving to become better coaches and student-athletes.”

Fedora is building a program at North Carolina that encompasses all aspects of the student-athlete experience. In his first four seasons, the Tar Heels set numerous offensive records, electrified fans with their special teams play, produced numerous professional prospects and won at least six games every season. Off the field, North Carolina student-athletes are regulars in the community and at local elementary schools. 

Fedora was one of the first coaches in the country to implement the spread offense, a style now employed in many major programs. He was quick to brand his style of play as “smart, fast and physical,” a mantra he’s preached since he first became a head coach at Southern Miss in 2008. That style has paid dividends for UNC, which has averaged more than 425 total yards of offense per game under his watch.    

As a player, Fedora was a wide receiver at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, from 1981 to 1984. He played on the 1981 Kangaroo squad that won the NAIA championship. He earned academic All-America honors in 1983, and was honorable mention All-America in both 1983 and 1984.

The College Station, Texas, native earned his bachelor’s degree from Austin in 1985, where he also earned his master’s degree in 1986. He and his wife, Christi, have one son, Dillon, and three daughters, Sydney, Peyton and Hallie.

2015 Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award winner Joe Taylor

Joe Taylor currently serves as the athletic director at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va. Coach Taylor is a legend in college football, winning four National Championships, 14 Conference Championships and seven bowl games. He has a lifetime win-loss record of 233-96-4.

As a head football coach, he has transformed the lives of thousands of young men over his 40 years of coaching. He was the head football coach at Florida A&M University from 2008 to 2012 and led the Hampton University football team from 1992 to 2007. He was also the head coach at Virginia Union from 1984 to 1991, where he won one conference title on his way to an overall record of 60-19-3 (.750).

Under Taylor’s direction, a number of outstanding former players went on to the National Football League and Canadian Football League, such as Kendall Langford, Marcus Dixon, Justin Durant, Corey Swinson, Alonzo Coleman, Nevin McCaskill, Onrea Jones, Cordell Taylor, Leroy Vann, Curtis Holcomb, Kevin Elliott and Brian Tyms.

Taylor has also three hall of fame honors, having been elected at Western Illinois University, Virginia Union University and The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference. He has served on numerous committees for the American Football Coaches Association, where he served on the board of trustees, becoming president in 2001.

Taylor has also been selected coach of the year by numerous professional organizations, including the Washington, D.C. Pigskin Club, the Norfolk Sports Club, the American Football Coaches Association Conference, Atlanta Touchdown Club and Richmond Touchdown Club. The All-American Football Foundation honored Taylor with the Johnny Vaught Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

Taylor completed his undergraduate education at Western Illinois University, and he also holds a master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.

Named after Grant Teaff, former Baylor University coach, AFCA executive director and Trustee Emeritus of the FCA Board of Trustees, the Coach of the Year Award presented by FCA recognizes a football coach who exemplifies Christian principles and who is involved in FCA. The award is also based on the success and performance of the coach’s team that season. Previous winners include Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (2014), Hugh Freeze (2013), Tommy Bowden, Tommy Tuberville and Jerry Kill. 

The Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a coach who has committed his life to being a Christian influence in the lives of student-athletes. Previous winners include coaching great Art Baker (2014), Randy Allen (2013), Jimmie Keeling, Fisher DeBerry, Jerry Moore, Mel Tjeerdsma, Houston Nutt, Tony Dungy and Ken Sparks.

Photos courtesy of chapelboro.com, goheels.com, richmondfreepress.com