Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

AFCA Press Release

Dec. 13, 2025 - After a 13-0 mark this season with the North Central College football team back in the semifinals for the sixth straight year, head coach Brad Spencer has been named the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year, the organization announced Monday, following a vote of the active AFCA members at four-year schools in the Association's five divisions.

Spencer is the first North Central head coach to earn national AFCA honors, having earned the Region 4 Coach of the Year on Nov. 25. The Cardinals led Division III in both scoring offense (50.0 points per game) and scoring defense (9.2 points allowed per game), and are the only remaining unbeaten team left in the postseason field. 

Over his four years as head coach, Spencer is 57-1, leading North Central to 28 straight wins, four straight Division III National Championship games, and two Stagg Bowl victories. Last season, he was named the D3football.com National and Regional Coach of the Year. 

Spencer will be formally recognized Jan. 12 in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the AFCA's annual convention, along with Indiana's Curt Cignetti (FBS), Presbyterian's Steve Englehart (FCS), Kutztown's Jim Clements (Division II), and Benedictine's Joel Osborn (NAIA).

North Central hosts John Carroll University in the Division III semifinals this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. This is the first meeting between the programs.