Ron McBride has accomplished many great things during his 17-year head coaching career, but one honor that always eluded him was a Coach of the Year award.
Until Wednesday.
McBride was named the Big Sky's Coach of the Year for leading the Wildcats to a share of the conference title, a 9-3 overall record and a berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the first time in 17 years. The award is voted on by the Big Sky's football coaches.
"This is nice," McBride said, "especially at this age."
It seems surprising that McBride, 69, never won a Coach of the Year award during his 13 years at Utah. He guided the Utes to three conference titles and six bowl appearances. He felt like he was in the running for it a couple of times, but watched others receive the honor instead.
That wasn't the case this time, as McBride was a no-brainer choice for Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2008. His Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the preseason by the league's coaches and media. They were unranked to start the season, but got as high as eighth in the polls. They are currently ranked 12th, and will play at third-ranked Cal Poly in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.
McBride said the Coach of the Year honor is something that the entire Weber State program can be proud of and that everyone affiliated with it contributed to his award.
"I think it's a great thing for our assistant coaches and the players," McBride said. "They are the ones who put us in this position. It was a good, good thing."
McBride is 24-21 overall in four seasons at Weber State. He is the fourth Wildcat football coach to earn the Big Sky's annual award. The others are Sark Arslanian (1965), Mike Price (1987) and current athletic director Jerry Graybeal (2003).
McBride's current coaching staff includes assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Kevin Clune, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin McGiven, special teams and linebackers coach Jake Cookus, offensive line coach Don Eck, defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a, tight ends coach Tom Stackaruk, safeties coach Colton Swan, running backs coach Matt Hammer, receivers coach Steve Cox and offensive line coach Kamall Ahmad.
MAILEI BEING NOTICED: Weber State fullback Marcus Mailei may not be putting up dazzling statistics like several of his offensive teammates this season. But he has contributed to their success, especially as the lead blocker for running back Trevyn Smith.
Smith has rushed for 1,344 yards and scored 18 touchdowns with Mailei helping to clear the way for him. While Mailei might not be receiving much recognition, other than the first-team all-conference honor he was awarded on Tuesday, the guys who work for teams that play on Sundays are taking notice.
"Marcus, according to the pro scouts, is probably the No. 1 fullback in the country," McBride said. "Anybody that sees him loves him. He's a dominant player."
FAMILIAR FOE: The Wildcats are no strangers to Cal Poly. McBride's teams faced the Mustangs in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Neither were pretty for Weber State.
Cal Poly rolled past the Wildcats 47-19 last season, and won in Ogden 17-0 in 2006. Overall, the all-time series between the two teams is tied at 3-3. Weber State won the first three games, and Cal Poly has won the last three.
FCS playoffs
Weber State (9-3)
at Cal Poly (8-2)
Saturday, 7 p.m. (MST)
Alex G. Spanos Stadium, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
TV: none Radio: 1430 AM
E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com