Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Land 8 On All-MAC Team
12/4/2019 10:57:00 AM | Football
McElwain named MAC Coach of the Year
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Eight Central Michigan football players along with coach Jim McElwain earned individual accolades from the Mid-American Conference.
Four Chippewas were named to the All-MAC First Team, while McElwain earned the league's Coach of the Year Award after leading CMU to a remarkable turnaround.
Two other Chippewas were named to the All-MAC Second Team and two more earned a spot on the third team.
CMU sophomore Kalil Pimpleton was named to the first team at two positions, wide receiver and punt returner. Also named to the first team were wideout JaCorey Sullivan, a junior, linebacker Troy Brown and defensive lineman Sean Adesanya.
Pimpleton led the conference in both receptions (73) and receiving yards (771) and also caught six touchdown passes. His 9.0-yard punt return average ranked second in the league. Sullivan had 47 catches for 712 yards and three TDs. Adesanya led the league with 14.5 tackles-for-loss and was second in sacks with seven. Brown was CMU's team leader in tackles (78) and interceptions (3) and ranks second in the MAC with 14.0 TFLs and 68 solo tackles.
Tight end Tony Poljan and linebacker Michael Oliver were each named to the second team, while running back Jonathan Ward and defensive lineman Robi Stuart each earned a spot on the third team.
Poljan ranked second among MAC tight ends in receptions (30), receiving yards (458) and touchdowns (4). Oliver is CMU's second-leading tackler with 73. He also had had 7.5 TFLs and an interception.
Ward ranked second in the MAC in all-purpose yards per game (134.0), third in rushing touchdowns (15), and fourth in rushing average (105.6). Stuart finished the regular season with 25 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and three sacks.
Ward is the only one of the eight to earn all-conference honors previously. He was an All-MAC Second Team pick in 2017.
In his first season at CMU, McElwain has led the biggest turnaround in college football as the Chippewas take an 8-4 record into the MAC Championship Game against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday (noon) at Ford Field in Detroit.
McElwain led the Chippewas, who won just one game a year ago, to their first outright MAC West title since 2009 and their first league-championship game appearance since that year.
McElwain is the third CMU coach to earn the MAC Coach of the Year Award and the first since Dick Flynn in 1994. Herb Deromedi was named the league's top coach in 1980 and in 1990.
It marks the third time in his career that McElwain has earned a league coach of the year award. He was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year while leading Colorado State in 2014 and he earned the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year Award at Florida in 2015.
Four Chippewas were named to the All-MAC First Team, while McElwain earned the league's Coach of the Year Award after leading CMU to a remarkable turnaround.
Two other Chippewas were named to the All-MAC Second Team and two more earned a spot on the third team.
CMU sophomore Kalil Pimpleton was named to the first team at two positions, wide receiver and punt returner. Also named to the first team were wideout JaCorey Sullivan, a junior, linebacker Troy Brown and defensive lineman Sean Adesanya.
Pimpleton led the conference in both receptions (73) and receiving yards (771) and also caught six touchdown passes. His 9.0-yard punt return average ranked second in the league. Sullivan had 47 catches for 712 yards and three TDs. Adesanya led the league with 14.5 tackles-for-loss and was second in sacks with seven. Brown was CMU's team leader in tackles (78) and interceptions (3) and ranks second in the MAC with 14.0 TFLs and 68 solo tackles.
Tight end Tony Poljan and linebacker Michael Oliver were each named to the second team, while running back Jonathan Ward and defensive lineman Robi Stuart each earned a spot on the third team.
Poljan ranked second among MAC tight ends in receptions (30), receiving yards (458) and touchdowns (4). Oliver is CMU's second-leading tackler with 73. He also had had 7.5 TFLs and an interception.
Ward ranked second in the MAC in all-purpose yards per game (134.0), third in rushing touchdowns (15), and fourth in rushing average (105.6). Stuart finished the regular season with 25 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and three sacks.
Ward is the only one of the eight to earn all-conference honors previously. He was an All-MAC Second Team pick in 2017.
In his first season at CMU, McElwain has led the biggest turnaround in college football as the Chippewas take an 8-4 record into the MAC Championship Game against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday (noon) at Ford Field in Detroit.
McElwain led the Chippewas, who won just one game a year ago, to their first outright MAC West title since 2009 and their first league-championship game appearance since that year.
McElwain is the third CMU coach to earn the MAC Coach of the Year Award and the first since Dick Flynn in 1994. Herb Deromedi was named the league's top coach in 1980 and in 1990.
It marks the third time in his career that McElwain has earned a league coach of the year award. He was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year while leading Colorado State in 2014 and he earned the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year Award at Florida in 2015.
Players Mentioned
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