CARROLLTON, Ga. - Head football coach Joel Taylor has been named a finalist for the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the national coach of the year in Division I FCS college football.
Taylor is one of 15 finalists across FCS football and one of two from the United Athletic Conference, joining Tarleton State's Todd Whitten.
The Wolves doubled their win total win in 2025 and won six more Division I games and won their first-ever game over a ranked opponent with the week two victory over Nicholls.
The success of UWG's year two under Taylor was also noteworthy in the sense that no reclassifying team has ever won eight games against scholarship, Division I opponents since 2000. The previous high in that category was six, which was accomplished by North Dakota State in 2005 and Central Arkansas in 2007.
In the UAC, UWG finished 5-3 in 2025 after going 1-7 in league play in 2024. Heading into the season, UWG was picked to finish seventh in the UAC and finished fourth in 2025.
Other finalists for the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award include Andrew Aurich (Harvard), Travis Bush (UT Rio Grande Valley), Kevin Cahill (Lehigh), Colby Carthel (Stephen F. Austin), Steve Englehart (Presbyterian), Jim Fleming (Rhode Island), Bobby Hauck (Montana), DeSean Jackson (Delaware State), Tremaine Jackson (Prairie View A&M), Mike Jacobs (Mercer), Adam Lechtenberg (Central Connecticut State), Tim Polasek (North Dakota State), Bobby Wilder (Tennessee Tech).
The award, first presented in 1987 and in its 39th season, is named for legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson. Past recipients include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Mike Ayers, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore, K.C. Keeler, Deion Sanders, John Stiegelmeier, Brent Vigen and two-time recipients Mickey Matthews, Sean McDonnell and Craig Bohl.
All 13 FCS leagues are represented by an Eddie Robinson Award finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on December 4 and honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on January 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
