Now Through December 22, Visit CoachoftheYear.com to Vote for Coach Catanzaro!
BOSTON – December 10, 2013 – Liberty Mutual Insurance today announced Lake Forest College Head Football Coach Jim Catanzaro among the five Division III finalists for the 2013 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, honoring coaches who best exemplify responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and excellence both on and off the field.
Now in its eighth year, the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is the only college football-coaching award that promotes both charity and scholarship through its winners. Since 2006, more than $1.8 million has been distributed to over 100 charities and colleges across the country through the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award program. Should Coach Catanzaro win, he will receive $50,000 from Liberty Mutual to donate to his favorite charities and a $20,000 contribution to the Lake Forest College Alumni Association for scholarship. Liberty Mutual Insurance will announce the four Coach of the Year winners prior to the BCS Championship game on January 6, 2014, in Newport Beach, Calif.
Beginning today through December 22, fans can vote daily at CoachoftheYear.com or Facebook.com/LMCoachoftheYear. Forester fans have a voice in the final outcome, with 20 percent of each finalist's ultimate standing dependent on fan votes. In addition, each vote during this period will serve as an official entry into the "Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Fan Experience Sweepstakes," awarding one lucky fan tickets and airfare for two to the 2014 regular season college football game of their choice. The sweepstakes winner will be chose by a random drawing on December 23.
"Throughout the voting process, Lake Forest College and their fans and alumni showed tremendous support for Coach Catanzaro, speaking volumes to his importance to the community both on and off the field," said James MacPhee, senior vice president and Chief Marketing Officer at Liberty Mutual Insurance. "Liberty Mutual Insurance is proud to recognize Jim Catanzaro as one of this year's Division III finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, celebrating his leadership and mentorship to his players, as well as his dedication to the Lake Forest community."
In all, 25 finalists – 10 in the Football Bowl Subdivision and five each in the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III – were determined by an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame, incorporating such criteria as wins, team penalties, sportsmanship, academic performance by the student-athletes, and charitable commitments in their community and beyond. To qualify for the scoring model, each coach needed to finish among the top 15 in fan voting in his division from September 24 until December 3.
The other four Division III finalists for the 2013 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award are, in alphabetical order: Pete Fredenburg, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas); Lance Leipold, Wisconsin-Whitewater; Mike Rader, Maryville (Tenn.); and Mike Swider, Wheaton (Ill.). Past Division III winners have been Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas (Minn.) (2012, 2011 and 2010); Steve Staker, Coe (Iowa) (2009); Larry Kehres, Mount Union (Ohio) (2008); and John Gagliardi, St. John's (Minn.) (2007).
The winners, to be announced January 6, 2014, will be determined by a weighted voting system. Fan votes in this period will account for 20 percent of each coach's final score, with votes from two committees of college football media (25 percent) and College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches (55 percent) also being considered.
About Liberty Mutual Insurance
"Helping people live safer, more secure lives" since 1912, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified global insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2012 direct premiums written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual Insurance also ranks 81st on the Fortune 100 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2012 revenue. The company employs over 50,000 people in approximately 900 offices throughout the world.
The sixth-largest auto and home insurer in the U.S., Liberty Mutual (libertymutual.com) sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions, personal liability, and individual life insurance. The company is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering car and home insurance to employees and members of more than 14,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups.
Liberty Mutual Insurance is the Official Property and Casualty and Life Insurance Partner of the 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. Liberty Seguros (Brazil) is a National Supporter and Official Insurer of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup, both of which are in Brazil.
About the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award presented by Fidelity Investments, Play It Smart, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the William V. Campbell Trophy endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. For more information, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.
