The American Football Coaches Association named Alonzo “Jake” Gaither the recipient of the 2008 Trailblazer Award. The honor will be presented posthumously at the AFCA convention in January 2009.

The award honors coaches from historically black colleges and universities. Gaither coached at Florida A&M for 25 seasons beginning in 1945 and compiled a record of 203-36-4. His win percentage is eighth all-time among college coaches. After he retired from coaching in 1969, he became athletics director and led the physical education and health departments at Florida A&M until he retired in 1973. He died in 1994.

“Since I’ve been here, I have really found out how much of a giant of a man he really was,” Florida A&M head coach Joe Taylor said. “There are parks, buildings and streets named after him. We send out a video that names him one of the great Floridians that ever lived in the state.”

AFCA previously honored Gaither with the 1975 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award, and he was an honorary member of the group’s Board of Trustees for 22 years.