Babers Tabbed AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year

WACO, Texas – Syracuse head football coach Dino Babers has been voted the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 1 Coach of the Year, the AFCA announced on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Babers is one of five AFCA Regional Coach of the Year winners in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The other four are: Alabama's Nick Saban (Region 2), Notre Dame's Brian Kelly (Region 3), Iowa State's Matt Campbell (Region 4) and Washington State's Mike Leach (Region 5).

Selected by active AFCA members in their respective regions, the five winners represent the finalists for the 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year in the FBS, which will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 8 during the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Tuesday's honor marks the third time Babers has been recognized by his peers in the AFCA. He was previously voted the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013 at Eastern Illinois.

Babers, also a finalist for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year award and the Dodd Trophy, guided the Orange to a breakthrough season in 2018. The Orange are 9-3 overall and placed second in the ACC Atlantic Division to earn a berth opposite No. 15 West Virginia in the upcoming Camping World Bowl.

One of the most improved teams in the country, Syracuse is one of three Power-Five teams, along with Baylor and Florida, to increase its win total by five from last season. Of the Orange's three losses, two are to teams currently in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings – No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame.

Syracuse boasts one of the most opportunistic defenses and complete special teams units in the country. The Orange are in the top 10 nationally in third-down defense (6th - .281), fumbles recovered (t-3rd - 13), interceptions (t-5th - 17), turnover margin (t-3rd - +1.17) and turnovers gained (t-1st - 30). In ESPN's special teams efficiency ratings, Syracuse is tied for sixth nationally and ranks second among Power-Five teams with mark of 68.8.

Offensively, Syracuse is second in the ACC in scoring offense (40.8) and third in total offense (468.8). The Orange have scored at least 50 points a school-record five times, and have scored 40+ points in eight of their 12 regular-season contests.

Babers is the third Orange head coach to win AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honors, joining Dick MacPherson (1987) and Doug Marrone (2010). MacPherson was voted the AFCA National Coach of the Year in 1987 after leading Syracuse to an unbeaten 11-0-1 record.

Kickoff between the 17th-ranked Orange and West Virginia is set for 5:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

New season ticket orders and renewals to watch Orange football in 2019 are being accepted now. Tickets for next season's six-game home slate start at $100 for Syracuse University Young Alumni (Class of 2015 to Class of 2019 graduates) and $125 for the general public. They may be purchased online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

The deadline to renew current season tickets is March 8, 2019.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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