Separate awards are presented at all levels of U.S. college football.
The AFCA's section for community and junior colleges presents an identical award to a head coach at a two-year institution.
NAIA was included in the Division II and III groups until 2006 when it was broken into its own category.
The California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) each had their own coach of the year honors until 2002 when they joined together to award the American Community College Football Coaches Association (ACCFCA) Coach of the Year Award.
The award was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA and professional organization involvement.