Lashlee named to AFCA Board of Trustees

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Lashlee named to AFCA Board of Trustees

WACO, Texas (AFCA/SMU) – SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee was named to American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Board of Trustees on Monday in a release by the AFCA.

Lashlee was selected along with Trinity University head coach Jerheme Urban, Western Colorado University head coach Jas Bains, Liberty University head coach Jamey Chadwell, Army West Point head coach Jeff Monken, Western Michigan University head coach Lance Taylor, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake.

Those coaches will join a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others. Returning members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include 2025 president Bobby Hauck of the University of Montana, first vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest College, second vice-president Steve Ryan of Morningside University and third vice-president James Franklin of Penn State University.
The Arkansas native has been the driving force in leading the Mustangs' return to prominence, illustrated by the program making its first appearance in the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2024 as the No. 11 seed, continuing a program-record run of being bowl eligible for a sixth straight season.

Lashlee's rise to national prominence continued in 2024, leading SMU to a mark of 11-3 and 8-0 record in conference play in its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which resulted in an appearance in the ACC Championship. For his success, he was named the ACC Coach of the Year, while also seeing 19 Mustangs garner All-ACC accolades.

He was also selected as a finalist for the second straight year for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award and the Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of Year Award, while also being named a semi-finalist for the George Munger National Coach of the Year Award for a second straight season.

Also serving on the Board in 2025 are: Clark Lea, Vanderbilt University; Jay Norvell, Colorado State University; Jason Simpson, University of Tennessee-Martin; Alvin Parker, Virginia Union University; Bret Bielema, University of Illinois; Chris Klieman, Kansas State University; Tony Elliott, University of Virginia; Charles Huff, University of Southern Mississippi; Brent Venables, University of Oklahoma; Grant Newsome, University of Michigan, ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee; Van Malone, Kansas State University, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.