Elliott one of six coaches named to AFCA’s Board of Trustees

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia Fralin Family Head Football Coach Tony Elliott is one of six coaches elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the organization announced Monday.

Elliott is joined by Ohio University head coach Tim Albin, University of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, Marshall University head coach Charles Huff, Kansas State University head coach Chris Klieman and University of Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables.

Albin (MAC) and Huff (Sun Belt) are replacing conference representatives who took new job opportunities while Bielema (Big Ten), Elliott (ACC), Klieman (Big 12) and Venables (SEC) are being added as second representatives of their conferences.

“The AFCA is excited about the addition of Tim Albin from Ohio University and Charles Huff from Marshall University as new Board of Trustees members from the MAC and Sun Belt,” said AFCA executive director Craig Bohl. “Also, being reflective of FBS conference expansion, the AFCA has added more board members for the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and SEC, with the addition of Illinois’ Bret Bielema, Virginia’s Tony Elliott, Kansas State’s Chris Klieman and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables.”

Those coaches will join a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others.

Members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include president Jeff McMartin of Central College, first vice-president Bobby Hauck of the University of Montana, second vice-president Neal Brown of West Virginia University and third vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest College.

Also serving on the Board in 2024 are: Steve Ryan, Morningside University; James Franklin, Penn State University; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest University; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International University; Mike Babcock, McKendree University; Clark Lea, Vanderbilt University; Mike Bloomgren, Rice University; Jay Norvell, Colorado State University; Jason Simpson, University of Tennessee at Martin; Alvin Parker, Virginia Union University; Randy Bates, University of Pittsburgh; ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee; Van Malone, Kansas State University, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.

Elliott spent 16 years as an assistant coach before accepting his first head coaching job at Virginia in 2022. The 2024 season will be his third season as the Cavaliers head coach. Elliott spent 11 years as an assistant at Clemson coaching running backs and calling plays as co-offensive coordinator.

In 10 of his years, the Tigers won 10 or more games, won six ACC titles and two national titles in 2016 and 2018. He began his coaching career at South Carolina State, spending the 2006 and 2007 seasons as a wide receivers coach. Elliott moved to Furman, again as wide receivers coach, from 2008-10 before joining the Clemson staff in 2011.