Kirch and Menage Named NAIA Coordinator of the Year Finalists

Northwestern takes two of the five NAIA finalist spots in Footballscoop.com’s list

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – After winning the program's first national title since 1983, the honors and accolades continue to roll in for the Northwestern College football coaching staff as coordinators Billy Kirch (Defensive) and Jake Menage (Offensive) were named Footballscoop.com National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coordinators of the Year finalists.

"Coach Kirch and Coach Menage deserve a lot of credit for our team's success this fall," noted head coach Matt McCarty. "Both sides of the ball consistently played at a remarkably high level all season, in large part to their leadership on both sides of the football."

Menage, in his first season, inherited a solid offense but led the Red Raiders with primetime play-calling and leadership, as Northwestern sat third in the NAIA in both points per game (43.7) and total yards per game (467.6). Sophomore quarterback Jalyn Gramstad (Lester, Iowa) had a breakout year, landing himself in the program's single-season record book under the direction of Menage. Gramstad set the single-season record for pass completion percentage (68.75%) and total touchdowns responsible for (48) and second in pass efficiency (180.24) and rushing touchdowns (23). His 23 rushing scores is most-ever for a Red Raider quarterback in a season, sitting just behind running back Dave Perrigo and his 24 scores in 1998.

He had three athletes named All-Americans on the season, including one First Team honoree in offensive lineman Greg Will (Sr., Spirit Lake, Iowa) by the Associated Press (AP).

Kirch, in his eighth season on staff and seventh as the defensive coordinator at Northwestern, had another stellar season holding opposing offenses at bay all season long. The Red Raiders sat top-5 in three major defensive categories under Kirch including opponent points per game (3^rd, 11.5), opponent yards per game (4^th, 226.6), and rushing yards allowed per game (5^th, 63.6).

He also coached his third Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Defensive Player of the Year in Parker Fryar (So., Waukee, Iowa). Additionally, he saw two athletes named All-Americans in Fryar and Jaden Snyder (Sr., Larchwood, Iowa), while also having eight total All-Conference performers in the GPAC.

The last Red Raider coach to earn assistant coach of the year finalist honors, from any organization, is current head coach Matt McCarty back in 2014.

Footballscoop.com prepares for their 15^th annual Coaches of the Year honors this season. To be nominated, coaches must be nominated by fellow coaches in the industry. Winners from each category are selected by past winners of each category over the last fourteen years and will be announced in the coming days.

The winners of each category will be honored at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention in Charlotte in January.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#43 Parker Fryar: LB; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#12 Jalyn Gramstad: QB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#6 Jaden Snyder: DB/P; 6' 2"; Senior

#74 Greg Will: OL; 6' 3"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#43 Parker Fryar
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: LB

#12 Jalyn Gramstad
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: QB

#6 Jaden Snyder
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DB/P

#74 Greg Will
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OL