Dec. 13, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, TX - Hundreds of college football coaches have spent the season reviewing tape, logging extra hours studying opposing defenses, adjusting plays for greater success and orchestrating come-from-behind victories. For 10 premier Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) coaches, however, their inspirational efforts both on and off the field now sets them apart from the rest. Liberty Mutual Insurance today named Texas A&M University Head Football Coach Mike Sherman one of 10 FBS finalists for the 2010 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, the leading college football coaching honor which celebrates coaches for their sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence and for giving back to their teams, schools and communities, on and off field.
The finalists were determined as a result of online fan voting at www.CoachoftheYear.com and through an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame. Coach Sherman qualified for the model by finishing among the top 15 in fan votes in the FBS division. The model considers, among other criteria: wins, team penalties, on-field sportsmanship, academic achievement by the student-athletes and civic and philanthropic endeavors.Â
"Coach Sherman is a great candidate for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award," said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual senior vice president, Consumer Marketing. "The passionate Texas A&M fans and former students have suitably honored his coaching excellence, his dedication to student-athletes, and his commitment to community by casting votes and sharing anecdotes about his contributions, both on and off the field."
Joining Coach Sherman among the 10 finalists for the Football Bowl Subdivision are, in alphabetical order: Gene Chizik, Auburn; Mark Dantonio, Michigan State; Rich Ellerson, Army; Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Chip Kelly, Oregon; Doug Marrone, Syracuse; Tom O'Brien, North Carolina State; Nick Saban, Alabama; Jim Tressel, Ohio State.
"It is well-deserved for Coach Sherman to be a 2010 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist, and is also an honor for Texas A&M to be included among this esteemed list of candidates," said Bill Byrne, Director of Athletics at Texas A&M. "Coach Sherman is the epitome of a leader, on and off the field, and Texas A&M fans and former students everywhere celebrate this achievement."
In addition to leading the Aggies to a share of the Big 12 South title in 2010, Sherman paid his own way on a goodwill mission to Baghdad, Iraq, to visit troops this past spring and he attributes the ability to make the trip happen to the Aggie Network. Sherman also makes sure the entire football team participates in the Texas A&M spring community project, the "Big Event". Sherman and his wife, Karen, continue to support Marion House in Green Bay, Wisconsin, along with their support of several churches in the Bryan-College Station community.
Voting for the Winners
Now through December 28 fans can visit www.CoachoftheYear.com to vote among the finalists. To ensure candidates are evaluated fairly and measured against the specific values of responsibility and integrity, selection committees of College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches - including Archie Manning, Lou Holtz, Vince Dooley, Ronnie Lott, Archie Griffin as well as additional historic football coaches and players - and the national college football media, such as famed sports analysts, Kirk Herbstreit, Stewart Mandel and Tim Brando, will also cast votes for the winners. Fan votes constitute 20 percent of a coach's final score, with College Football Hall of Fame comprising 55 percent and media, 25 percent.Â
Liberty Mutual will announce the four winners, one from each division, January 10 in Scottsdale, Ariz., prior to the BCS National Championship Game. If Coach Sherman wins, he will receive $50,000 to donate to the charities of his choice and a $20,000 grant to his school's alumni association, providing further positive impact for Texas A&M and the local community. Now in its fifth year, the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award will surpass $1 million in support to dozens of national and local charities and college scholarship funds on behalf of its 2010 and past winners. Former Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year FBS winners include: Gary Patterson, TCU (2009); Nick Saban, Alabama (2008); Ron Zook, Illinois (2007); and Greg Schiano, Rutgers (2006).
About Liberty Mutual Group
"Helping people live safer, more secure lives" since 1912, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group (Libertymutualgroup.com) is a diversified global insurer and fifth-largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2009 direct written premium. Liberty Mutual Group ranks 71st on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2009 revenue. The company has over 45,000 employees located in more than 900 offices throughout the world.
The eighth-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 12,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups.
About the National Football Foundation & the College Football Hall of Fame