WACO, Texas – After leading the Humboldt State football program to its first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1968 and a 10-2 overall record, Head Coach Rob Smith was tabbed an American Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year.
 
"We are so proud of Coach Smith and the team's accomplishments this season," said Humboldt State athletic director Dan Collen. "The team had an extraordinary year and he is very deserving of this honor. He and his staff have shown their dedication to the program and a commitment to excellence, which paid off this season with a trip to the NCAA playoffs."
 
The regional honor is the third of Smith's career after being selected during the 1995 and 1996 seasons while coaching at Western Washington. He was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year earlier this season, after earning co-Coach of the Year honors a season ago.
 
Smith guided the Lumberjacks to an outright GNAC title and an NCAA Playoff first round victory over Augustana in Redwood Bowl. He coached one of the nation's best offensive units led by the top rusher in the country, sophomore Ja'Quan Gardner, the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award.

Humboldt State finished with a 10-2 overall record and went undefeated in GNAC play at 6-0 to win their first conference title since 2011. The Lumberjacks earned an invitation to the NCAA Division II playoffs and hosted their first playoff game since 1960, beating Augustana (S.D.) 45-31.