Frisco, TX - Portland State Football Coach Bruce Barnum received his FCS National Coach of the Year Award on Friday night while safety Patrick Onwuasor finished second in the balloting for National Defensive Player of the Year.

Barnum and Onwuasor, along with several other FCS players were recognized at the FCS National Awards banquet on the eve of Saturday's FCS Championship game between Jacksonville State and North Dakota State.

Barnum, who was named Coach of the Year in December, received his award from Jerry Moore, former Head Coach at Appalachian State, three-time national champion and also a previous National Coach of the Year recipient. Barnum led the Vikings to their best season ever at the Division I level with a 9-2 regular season record and number-five ranking at the end of the regular season. PSU improved by six games over 2014.

Onwuasor finished second in the balloting for National Defensive Player of the Year, which was revealed on Friday night. Defensive end Tyrone Holmes of Montana won the award. He had 260 balloting points. Onwuasor finished with 258 balloting points. Onwuasor and James Cowser of Southern Utah each received 21 first-place votes to 20 for Holmes among some 150 voters. Holmes had more second-place votes than Onwuasor. 

Cowser finished third in the voting with 249 balloting points.

Onwuasor, a senior from Inglewood, CA, led the Big Sky Conference and tied for the national lead with nine interceptions in 2015. He also had 85 tackles for the Vikings.

The Big Sky Conference took four of the five awards on the night as Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington was named National Offensive Player of the Year, and Case Cookus of Northern Arizona earned Freshman of the Year. 

Dalton Screws of Jacksonville State was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

A contingent of more than 20 friends, family and Portland State staff attended the event in support of Barnum and Onwuasor.

Votes for three defensive finalists (pts based on 5-4-3-2-1)
Tyrone Holmes, Montana, 20-18-18-13-8-260
Patrick Onwuasor, Portland State, 21-14-18-17-9=258
James Cowser, Southern Utah, 21-19-13-8-13=249