Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz had a 2019 season to remember at Appalachian State. North Carolina newspaper the North State Journal is recognizing Drinkwitz as its Coach of the Year.

“Armed with a talented veteran roster left behind by his predecessor Scott Satterfield, the former NC State offensive coordinator led App State to a school-record 12 wins, beat North Carolina for the first time and guided the program to its inaugural appearance in the College Football Playoff rankings on the way to a fourth straight Sun Belt Conference championship,” Brett Friedlander wrote for the Journal.

Friedlander, however, doesn’t consider the win over UNC to be the biggest of the year for Drinkwitz’s squad:

Seven weeks later, the Mountaineers went to South Carolina and beat the Gamecocks for its second Power 5 win of the season.

Drinkwitz accepted the Mizzou job after the Mountaineers defeated Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship Game, advancing to 12-1 on the season. Appalachian State went on to win a 13th game after Drinkwitz’s departure, topping UAB 31-17 on Dec. 21 in the New Orleans Bowl.