Price, Kramer Earn Regional Coaching Honors

Washington State University’s Mike Price and Eastern Washington’s Mike Kramer have been named GTE regional coaches of the year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Price was honored for Division I after guiding the Cougars through a 10-1 season that has them booked for a Jan. 1 date with Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Kramer’s Eagles (11-1) will play Western Kentucky Saturday in Albi Stadium in the second round of the Division I-AA playoffs.

The AFCA recognized five regional coaches in each of the association’s four divisions. Dan Hawkins of NAIA powerhouse Willamette University won the Division II award.

One coach from each division will be honored as national coach of the year. Each national winner’s school will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship. In addition, the AFCA awards $20,000 scholarships to the four NCAA national championship football teams and the NAIA titlist.

Price earned the Region 5 award in his ninth season at WSU. He has a 53-48 record in Pullman after spending eight seasons as head coach at Weber State.

The Cougars, enjoying their most successful season since 1930, wrapped up their regular season Nov. 22 with a 41-35 victory over Washington in the Apple Cup. They achieved the highest ranking in school history Sunday, when it was announced that they had climbed to eighth place in the Associated Press poll.

Former Washington State assistant Joe Tiller, head coach at Purdue, received the Division I-A award for Region 3.

Kramer has completed four seasons at EWU with a 24-21 record after serving as an assistant under longtime coach Dick Zornes. Kramer led the Eagles to their first outright Big Sky Conference title.

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