PIKEVILLE, Ky. — After leading the University of Pikeville football team to a share of its first Mid-South Conference East Division Championship, head coach Allan Holland, Jr., was named coach of the year in the division, while nine of his players picked up all-conference honors on Wednesday.
Holland Jr., is the first coach of the year from Pikeville since Jerry Mynatt led the Bears to the NAIA playoffs in 2005.
Holland Jr., led UPIKE to a 6-5 overall record in 2016, including a 5-1 mark in the MSC East to share the division crown with Georgetown. The Hazard native is now 12-5 in the east after finishing up his third season at the helm.
UPIKE’s list of student-athletes named all-conference includes seven on the first team and two being second-team choices.
Those named First Team All-MSC East include offensive lineman David Roberson, tight end Braxton Whitmore, running back Jamar Kirksey, kicker Damir Karapandzic, defensive lineman Chad Conway, linebacker Collie Taylor and defensive back Jack Hopkins. For Roberson, Karapandzic, Conway and Hopkins, this is their second straight all-conference award.
The Bear duo on the second team is offensive lineman Tyler Prater and wide receiver Austin Pray.
The individual awards and all-conference teams are voted on by the east division coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
Georgetown’s J.J. Jude was named the Offensive Player of the Year and Kentucky Christian’s Aaron Cooper is the division’s top defensive player. Offensive and defensive freshman of the year honors went to Union’s Izayah Riettie and Justavious Robinson, respectively.
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