Cotiguala named to AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team
It was quite a Tuesday for St. Ambrose senior kicker Matt Cotiguala.
Just minutes after being named the recipient of the prestigious Fred Mitchell Award, Cotiguala was named to the 2015 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.
Cotiguala's 2015 season was as good as any collegiate kicker's from any level.
He connected on 23-of-25 field goal attempts and was perfect on 28 extra point tries. He set NAIA national records for field goal percentage (92.0 percent) and field goals made per game (2.3) this year. His 23 field goals set a St. Ambrose single-season record and are the second-most by a kicker in a season in NAIA history.
Cotiguala leads the NAIA in field goals made, scoring by a kicker and PAT percentage.
His only misses all season were a season-opening 39-yard attempt off the upright and then a 52-yarder later in the year. His season-long was a 50-yarder as part of a four-field goal game in a win at Olivet Nazarene. He had two four-field goal games this season.
The six-time Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Special Teams Player of the Week also earned NAIA National Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Sept. 26.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects 25-player teams in all five of its divisions - FBS, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts.
This marks the fifth straight year the AFCA has named a Bee to its All-American team. Cotiguala follows in the footsteps of offensive lineman Carl Meister (2011), linebacker Jeremy Wallace (2012), punter Matt Klingler (2013), quarterback Eric Williamson (2013) and defensive lineman Steve Laski (2014). Williamson and Laski earned second team honors.