Eastern Washington football's Nick Kokich has been named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association (FCS,  ADA) Academic All-Star Team, announced today (Jan. 5). Kokich earned a 3.80 GPA in the fall quarter and was named to the Big Sky All-Conference second team. The junior punter also was named to the Phil Steele/Draft Scout FCS 2022 All-Big Sky Conference second team.

There were 53 student-athletes selected for the 25th FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team.

With Kokich's selection, Eastern has 25 total Academic All-Star honors won by 21 different Eagles since the award began in 1998. Head coach Aaron Best earned Academic All-Star honors in 1999.

Kokich averaged 43.8 yards per punt with a long of 61 yards during the 2022 season. The Tacoma, Wash. native was second in the conference and sixth in the nation in punting average. In total, Kokich punted for 2406 yards on 55 attempts. He placed 14 of his punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

For his career, Kokich is fifth in program history with 164 punts and holds a 41.0 yards per punt average to rank sixth. Kokich has earned Big Sky Conference All-Academic team honors three times and was an Academic Honors Candidate in the 2020-21 season. He has played 39 games while at Eastern and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in construction management.

Kokich is one of three Big Sky student-athletes to appear on the All-Star Team. He is joined by Montana's Robby Hauck (defensive back) and Montana State's Ben Seymour (defensive lineman).

Past FCS ADA Academic All-Star Members:

2022 – Nick Kokich, Punter
2020-21 - Jack Sendelbach, Linebacker
2019 - Spencer Blackburn, Center
2019 - Dehonta Hayes, Safety
2017 - Spencer Blackburn, Center
2016 - Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver
2015 - Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver
2015 - ***Jake Withnell, Tight End
2014 - Ronnie Hamlin, Linebacker
2013 - Ronnie Hamlin, Linebacker
2013 - Ashton Miller, Center
2012 - Jeff Minnerly, Safety
2011 - Jeff Minnerly, Safety
2011 - Mike Jarrett, Kicker
2010 - J.C. Sherritt, Linebacker
2010 - Matt Martin, Tight End
2009 - Chris Thomas, Offensive Tackle
2009 - Jacob Kragt, Defensive End
2007 - Tom McAndrews, Tight End
2005 - Joey Cwik, Linebacker
2003 - Kyler Randall, Wide Receiver
2003 - Kurt Sigler, Offensive Tackle
2002 - Josh Blankenship, Quarterback
1999 - Aaron Best, Center
1998 - Mike MacKenzie, Running Back
***Also post-graduate scholarship finalist.
 
About the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team
Student-athletes from all FCS institutions are eligible for the award. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate or graduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. They must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. They also must have participated in 50 percent of the games played at their designated position.

A special Review Committee of FCS athletics directors were responsible for selecting the 2022 Academic All-Star Team and FCS ADA Postgraduate Scholarship finalists. This year's Review Committee consisted of: Tom Michael, Eastern Illinois University (Chair); Milton Overton, Kennesaw State University; Mark Benson, University at Albany; Ryan Ivey, Stephen F. Austin State University; Nicki Moore, Cornell University.

Current FCS ADA President, Tom Michael, Director of Athletics at Eastern Illinois University, reflected, "Each year we have the incredible opportunity to read about and review many nominations from some amazing football student-athletes that compete at a high level in every aspect of being part of intercollegiate athletics. They obviously excel at a very high level in the classroom but also demonstrate an incredible commitment to being an integral part of the communities they live in as well. "Michael went on to say, "With such an outstanding group of nominees, selecting individuals to represent the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team was not an easy decision by the committee. However, those selected have achieved so much and the future is extremely bright with their leadership. My congratulations to each of the student-athletes selected and thank you for all you do representing yourself, your football team, and your institution in an excellent manner."