ST. LOUIS – University of Dayton head football coach Rick Chamberlin was named Coach of the Year and special teams captain Nick Kaczkowski was voted Co-Special Teams Player in the Pioneer Football League season-ending awards.

Chamberlin was named the PFL Coach of the Year for the second time.  The former UD All-American guided the Flyers to the 2015 PFL regular-season championship title, and the school's first-ever appearance in the FCS playoffs. 

Dayton's 10-2 record would have created a buzz for the award anyway, but it was such success after overcoming two potential road blocks that made him the clear-cut winner.  Starting QB Alex Jeske came off the bench in the season opener after beginning camp as the number three quarterback.  And just four games into the season, Dayton's all-time leading rusher and the 2014 PFL Offensive Player of the Year, Connor Kacsor, was injured and lost for the season.

Chamberlin just concluded his eighth season as the University of Dayton's head football coach where he has an impressive record of 65-25. Chamberlin has been a part of the Flyer football family for five decades, with 41 seasons tied to the program as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

This was Dayton's 12th PFL championship, and Chamberlin has been a part of every one.

Kaczkowski, a redshirt senior from Powell, Ohio won the Co-Special Teams Player of the Year award. The special teams' co-captain led all Flyers with 15 special team tackles this season and was second-best among the PFL.

Kaczkowski's season started strong when he blocked a kick in the season-opener against Robert Morris. Additionally, he had two punt returns in the first half of the season.

With his performance, Dayton led the PFL in kickoff average (39.7 net kickoff yards) this season. This is the first year a Flyer has one this award.

Kaczkowski shared the award with Butler's Guy DiBalsamo.

Dayton was 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the PFL.  UD was one of the last two teams undefeated in FCS football, winning its first 10 games of the season.