• Eddie Robinson Award Release
Southeast Missouri State head coach
Tom Matukewicz is one of 16 finalists nationally for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by Stats Perform to the FCS National Coach of the Year.
Matukewicz led Southeast Missouri to a 9-2 overall record and perfect 5-0 OVC mark as the Redhawks won a share of its third OVC Championship (2010, 2019, 2022). SEMO was 9-1 against FCS opponents including knocking off then nationally-ranked Southern Illinois in September.
The Redhawks are making its third playoff appearance in the past five years and fourth overall (2010, 2018, 2019, 2022). The team has had five-straight Conference winning seasons, the longest in program history, and have compiled a 26-8 OVC mark over that time. Prior to this run the team had not had a winning OVC record since 2010 and had not had back-to-back winning OVC campaigns since 2002-03.
Nationally, SEMO ranks third in tackles for loss allowed (3.91/game), fourth in punt return defense (1.62 yards/return), fifth in turnovers lost (9), sixth in sacks allowed (0.91/game), seventh in total offense (472.6 yards/game) and fumbles lost (3) and ninth in rushing offense (233.2 yards/game).
Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State and first presented in 1987, the Robinson Award is celebrating its 36th anniversary season. A national media panel will select the winner, who will be announced on Dec. 8 and honored at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game.
Three former OVC coaches have won the Eddie Robinson Awards including Murray State's Houston Nutt (1995), Southeast Missouri's Tony Samuel (2010) and Austin Peay's Will Healy (2017).
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
2022 Eddie Robinson Award Finalists
Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas (Pioneer)
Bob Chesney, Holy Cross (Patriot)
Chris Hatcher, Samford (Southern)
G.J. Kinne, UIW (Southland)
Tre Lamb, Gardner-Webb (Big South)
Mike London, William & Mary (CAA)
Tom Matukewicz, Southeast Missouri (OVC)
Tre Oliver, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Keith Patterson, Abilene Christian (WAC)
Ray Priore, Penn (Ivy)
Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State (ASUN)
Deion Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)
John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State (MVFC)
Troy Taylor, Sacramento State (Big Sky)
Brent Vigen, Montana State (Big Sky)
Chris Villarrial, Saint Francis (Northeast)