COLUMBIA, Ky. – Lindsey Wilson football head coach Chris Oliver earned a couple of honors recently as his team prepares for the NAIA playoffs.

A Blanchester High School graduate, Oliver was selected as the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division Ron Finley Coach of the Year. He also has been named the 2021 American Football Coaches’ Association NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year.

The regional honor is the sixth for Oliver, who is in his 11th season at Lindsey Wilson. He is one of two coaches across all levels of collegiate football to record multiple selections as region coach of the year in their respective region this season.

The MSC honor is the fourth of Oliver’s career at LW.

Oliver led the Blue Raiders to a 7-0 record in 2021 and the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division title. Lindsey Wilson has earned a bid into the NAIA playoffs where they will host a first-round game this Saturday at Blue Raider Stadium against No. 13 Bethel (Kan.).

In his 11 seasons, Oliver has compiled an 89-33 overall record, including a 48-7 mark over the last five seasons. He has advanced to the NAIA Championship Series six times in his career.

This season, Lindsey Wilson won the program’s fourth MSC divisional title. The Blue Raiders completed the program’s third perfect regular season as they have also accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2019.

Lindsey Wilson enters the postseason ranked No. 3 in the final regular-season NAIA Football Coaches’ Top-25 Poll.

Oliver graduated from Ohio State in 2003 and later completed his master’s degree from Ohio Dominican in 2007. He and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Samantha and Patrick.

Oliver attended Wilmington City Schools through his sophomore year, playing varsity football for head coach Kevin Gault. He then played for George Rise at Blanchester in 1997 and 1998. He graduated BHS in 1999.