Strohmeier Named 2023 NJCAA Coach of the Year
via www.njcaa.org
Charlotte, NC - Iowa Western's Scott Strohmeier has been named the 2023 NJCAA Divison I Football Coach of the Year after leading the Reivers to their second consecutive national title.
In his 15th season as head coach of the Reivers, Strohmeier led Iowa Western to claim the 2023 NJCAA Division I Football National Championship at the historic War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, AR. The No. 2 Reivers claimed a 61-14 victory over fourth-ranked East Mississippi (KS) on December 13, 2023. On their way to the National Championship, the Reivers defeated No.3 ranked Kilgore in the NJCAA Division I Football Playoff semifinal contest to earn a spot in the title game.
Iowa Western began the 2023 season ranked No.1 in the preseason before dropping to No.2 for the entire regular season. Strohmeier led Iowa Western to a 12-1 overall record, with his only loss of the season being to Hutchinson, who was ranked No.1 for the entire regular season. The Reivers finished the season No.1 in the nation in Sacks (62), Fumbles Recovered (16), Defensive Interceptions (22), and Rushing Yards (2682). They also finished No.2 in Rushing Touchdowns (30) and Scoring (426 points), No.4 in First Downs (252), No.7 in Passing Touchdowns (23), and No.9 in Tackles with 723. The Reivers named eight players to the 2023 NJCAA DI Football All-America team including Hunter Watson, Clev Lubin, Jaylen Pettus, Joshua Pierre-Louis, Jonathan Humpal, Luke Eckardt, Kemari Copeland, and Walt Gray.
In the 2022 season, Strohmeier led Iowa Western to claim the 2022 NJCAA Division I Football National Championship at the historic War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, AR. The No. 3 Reivers claimed a 31-0 victory over top-ranked Hutchinson (KS) on December 14, 2022, en route to the title. In the NJCAA Division I Football Playoff semifinal contest, Iowa Western traveled to face No. 2 Northwest Mississippi and topped the Rangers 33-12 to earn a spot in the national title contest.
Strohmeier came to Iowa Western to begin the Reivers' program in 2009. The Minnesota native, who concluded his 23rd season in college football, hit the century mark for career wins with a 36-19 victory over Northwest Mississippi in the 2017 Graphic Edge Bowl and won his 100th game with the Reivers in a 31-10 victory at Ft. Scott Community College in October of 2019. Prior to Iowa Western, Strohmeier coached at North Iowa Area Community College for three seasons, helping the Trojans to the postseason in his final two years in Mason City.
"Coach Stroh" and the Reivers finished the 2023 season with their second consecutive National Championship title and as the No.1 ranked team in the nation.