CLEVELAND (AP) - Kent State's Darrell Hazell has been named the Mid-American Conference's coach of the year after directing the Golden Flashes' stunning turnaround.

In his second season, Hazell has Kent State ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 1973 and headed to its first bowl game since 1972. The No. 18 Golden Flashes have won 10 straight games going into Friday's MAC title game against No. 19 Northern Illinois.

Kent State's 11 wins are the most in the program's 90-year history. The Golden Flashes went 8-0 in conference play and went on the road to beat then-No. 15 Rutgers.

Hazell spent seven years as an assistant at Ohio State before he was hired at Kent State. He'll likely be pursued by several of the major programs with coaching vacancies.