Coe's Staker named D-III coach of the year

Congrats to Coe football coach Steve Staker, who has been named Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year for NCAA Division III. Staker is awarded $50,000 for the charity of his choice, as well as $20,000 for Coe's alumni programs.

Other winners were  Gary Patterson of TCU (Division I), Jerry Moore of Appalachian State (I-AA) and Mel Tjeerdsma of Northwest Missouri State (Division II). The winners were selected by fan vote, media vote and votes from members of the College Football Hall of Fame.

According to a press release, "The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year program recognizes one coach in each of the four divisions of college football, celebrating coaches whose seasons were marked by the success and sportsmanship of their teams on the field, achievements by their student-athletes in the classroom, and their selfless support of charity and their communities."

Coe advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs this season. Staker was a longtime successful high school coach at Fredericksburg before coming to Coe first as an assistant. He is in his second season as head coach of the Kohawks.