Ferentz, Coe's Staker finalists for national award

Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Coe College's Steve Staker are among 25 finalists for the 2009 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. According to its press release, the award "recognizes a college football coach from each NCAA division for their work on and off the field."

It is decided by online fan voting at www.CoachoftheYear.com and via a selection committee of college football media and College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches. The winner will receive a $50,000 to donate to the charity of their choice and a $20,000 grant to donate to their school's alumni association for student scholarships and activities.

Fan voting is December 15 through December 29. The winners will be announced January 6.

Here are the finalists in each class:

Football Bowl Subdivision:

Mack Brown, University of Texas

Pete Carroll, University of Southern California

Kirk Ferentz, University of Iowa

Al Golden, Temple University

Paul Johnson, Georgia Institute of Technology

Brian Kelly, University of Cincinnati

Joe Paterno, Penn State University

Gary Patterson, Texas Christian University

Nick Saban, University of Alabama

Dabo Swinney, Clemson University

Football Championship Subdivision:

Tom Gilmore, College of the Holy Cross

Jerry Moore, Appalachian State University

Danny Rocco, Liberty University

Bob Spoo, Eastern Illinois University

John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State University

Division II:

Bo Atterberry, Texas A&M University – Kingsville

Danny Hale, Bloomsburg University

Bill Maskill, Midwestern State University

Bob Nielson, University of Minnesota – Duluth

Mel Tjeerdsma, Northwestern Missouri State University

Division III:

Steve Briggs, Susquehanna University

Greg Debeljak, Case Western Reserve University

John Gagliardi, Saint John's (Minn.) University

Steve Staker, Coe College

John Troxell, Franklin & Marshall College