AFCA convention.

The American Football Coaches Association will visit a familiar city when it converges on Dallas, Texas for the 83rd Annual Convention. Dallas has great meeting facilities, a myriad of exceptional restaurants, and a warm welcome for the AFCA.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Preparations are already underway for the January 8-11, 2006 meeting at the Wyndham Anatole. In August, every AFCA member will receive a convention packet with more information and a housing form. At that time, the member can choose his or her hotel accommodations from several hotels, with rates to suit every budget.

The meetings will serve as the culmination of the football season for the more than 5,000 coaches expected to attend. The convention will feature a three-day coaching clinic and several other functions, including the AFCA Kickoff Luncheon, ADT Awards Luncheon, and the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner. The first morning of the coaching clinic (Monday) will be devoted to presentations by high school and junior college coaches.

The speaker schedule for the 2006 convention is still in the planning stages, but if past history is any indication, those in attendance will be treated to another outstanding group of clinicians.

Speakers at the most recent convention included Auburn's Tommy Tuberville, Florida's Urban Meyer, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, Kevin Donley of St. Francis (Ind.), Michigan Tech's Bernie Anderson, Sherman Wood of Salisbury University, and Toledo's Tom Amstutz. Former coaches include Hayden Fry, Frank Kush, John Cooper, LaVell Edwards, Dick MacPherson, Bill Mallory, and Don Nehlen, to name a few.

Also sharing coaching secrets last year were the offensive staffs from Bowling Green State and Louisville, the defensive staffs of Boston College and Wisconsin, and the special teams staffs from Boise State and UTEP.

The AFCA Professional Development Series offered seminars in crisis management, leadership, sports nutrition, gambling, and drug use prevention. Over 200 companies displayed athletics-related products.

The only requirement to attend the convention is AFCA membership. The membership fee for high school, junior college, college, and professional coaches is $60. Unlike most clinics, there is no convention registration fee.

"We always encourage coaches in the immediate area of the convention and from surrounding states to attend," AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff said. "They will have an opportunity to hear some of the best football coaches in America, improve their knowledge of the game, and make contacts they couldn't get anywhere else."

The popular Buzz Sessions will return with an expanded list of speakers. For continuing convention updates, log on to www.afca.com.

Dallas is the place to be in January 2006!