WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Mules football offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Justin Bane has been named the 2023 FootballScoop.com Division II Coordinator of the Year, it was announced Thursday, Jan. 4.

Bane helped the Mules to an 11-2 overall record, MIAA Championship and a NCAA Division II Second Round Playoff appearance in 2023, all while guiding the UCM offense to numerous milestones.  

The Mules set new team records for most total plays (1,042), most yards gained (7,721), most touchdowns (89), most points (642), most passing yards (5,433), most yards passing per game (417.9), most TD passes (62), most first downs (398).

Central Missouri led all of NCAA Division II in total offense (598.3 yards per game), scoring offense (49.4 points per game), passing offense (417.9 yards per game) and first downs (398).

UCM quarterback Zach Zebrowski become the second Mule to win the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in all of NCAA Division II football. In addition, Zebrowski was named a consensus First Team All-American, receiving All-American accolades from the AFCA, D2CCA and Associated Press. He was named the D2CCA Ron Lenz Division II Offensive Player of the Year, D2CCA Super Region III Player of the Year, MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and NCAA.com Division II Offensive Player of the Year.

Zebrowski set new NCAA Division II records for passing touchdowns (61), total offensive yards (5,690), points responsible for (380) and TDs responsible for (63 - 61 pass, two rush) in UCM's 13 games in 2023. He also established new UCM and MIAA records for passing touchdowns (8), passing yards (615 yards) and total offense (673 yards) in a single-game in the Mules' 77-27 win over then No. 23-ranked Emporia State Oct. 21.

During the 2023 season, Zebrowski led all of NCAA Division II in total offense (437.7 yards per game), passing yards (5,157 yards), passing touchdowns (61), points responsible for (380), points responsible for per game (29.2 points per game) and passing yards per game (396.7 yards per game). He was second in completions per game (32 per game) and passing efficiency (173.0).

Bane also coached First Team All-American wide receiver Arkell Smith, who led NCAA Division II and the MIAA in both receiving yards (1,425) and receiving touchdowns (18) after playing in all 13 games in 2023. Smith holds the Central Missouri career record for receiving touchdowns (34) and receptions (196) and is second in career receiving yards (2,816). Smith tallied at least 100 receiving yards in eight games in 2023.