Courtesy: Beverly Schaefer Head coach Bob Surace led Princeton to its biggest turnaround since 1991 this past season.

After leading Princeton to its biggest turnaround in more than two decades, Bob Surace '90 was named one of 20 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the National Head Coach of the Year in FCS football.

The 2012 Princeton football team, despite playing the season without 2011 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Chuck Dibilio, improved by four wins and stayed in the Ivy League championship race until the final day of the season. The Tigers ended the year with a 5-5 record, including a 4-3 mark in the Ivy League.

It was Princeton's first winning season in Ivy League play since 2006, and it was also the first "Big Three" championship and bonfire since 2006. Princeton ended five-game losing streaks to both Brown and Harvard and produced a 3-2 road mark, also a program best since 2006.

Surace is the lone Ivy League coach among the 20 finalists. The winner will be announced on Dec. 17 at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation in Philadelphia.