WACO, Texas – Kutztown University head coach Jim Clements received coaching's highest honor, Monday, when he was announced as the 2025 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II National Coach of the Year for the first time in his career.
 
Clements, a six-time AFCA Regional Coach of the Year, led the Golden Bears to their third straight PSAC East and PSAC championships, second Super Region 1 championship in the last three seasons, a spot in the national semifinals and a 14-1 overall record this fall.
 
Kutztown finished the regular season unbeaten for the second year in a row and will enter the 2026 season with a Division II-best 31-game regular season winning streak dating back to 2023. The Golden Bears set new program single-season recorsd for victories (14), consecutive victories (14) and points scored (645), while matching their highest-ever ranking in the AFCA Division II Poll at No. 3.

Clements was recently named Division II Region 1 Coach of the Year for the fifth time (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025) to go along with an AFCA Division III Region 2 Coach of the Year honor at Delaware Valley in 2010.
 
Clements won his 100th game with the Golden Bears at Bloomsburg on Nov. 8. Kutztown went unbeaten in PSAC East play (7-0) for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

In 11 seasons leading the Golden Bears, Clements has produced a 104-30 record. He is the program's all-time leader in wins and winning percentage (.776). Clements is 170-54 (.759) in 19 seasons between Kutztown and Delaware Valley.

The Maroon and Gold have recorded winning seasons in each of Clements' 11 seasons at the helm, including five 10+ win seasons. He's a five-time PSAC East Coach of the Year.
 
Clements is the first-ever AFCA National Coach of the Year from Kutztown. The AFCA selects National Coaches of the Year in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III and NAIA.

Joining Clements as National Coaches of the Year are Indiana University's Curt Cignetti (FBS), Presbyterian's Steve Englehart (FCS), North Central's Brad Spencer (Division III) and Benedictine's Joel Osborn (NAIA).
 
The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in the Association's five divisions. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.