Ohio football's Faanes named AFCA 35 Under 35 honoree
Ohio University special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Nate Faanes has been named an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 Under 35 honoree, as announced by the AFCA Dec. 4.
THE AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches' Leadership Institute is a program created to train premier, future leadership in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day program, which features a curriculum of interactive lectures specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression and family balance.
Faanes has been a member of the Bobcats' coaching staff since 2016, starting his tenure has a defensive graduate assistant before becoming the linebackers coach. In 2020, Faanes added Special Teams Coordinator to his responsibilities.
During his time in Athens, Faanes has mentored a number of All-MAC players, including 2023 graduate student linebackers Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson, who both earned First-Team All-MAC Defense accolades after stellar performances this season. He also helped develop linebackers Quentin Poling (First Team, 2017), Chad Moore (Second Team, 2017) Evan Croutch (Second Team, 2018), as well as specialists Keegan Wilburn (First Team, 2022) and Nathanial Vakos (Second Team, 2022).