Sep 26, 2013

Voting is now open for Wheaton's Mike Swider for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award

Wheaton, Ill. – Thunder fans can show their support for Wheaton and head football coach Mike Swider in voting for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. Voting is conducted online at http://coachoftheyear.com/select-coaches.

Fan voting will decide the top 15 coaches from each division that are eligible to become finalists. Then an objective scoring model will be used to determine ten finalists from Division I-FBS and five finalist coaches from each of the other three divisions, based on specific criteria (SEE MORE INFO).

The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award recognizes college football coaches who demonstrate Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Excellence both on and off the field. Endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame and now in its eighth year, the program awards one winning coach from each NCAA division (I-FBS, I-FCS, II, and III) with $50,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, a $20,000 grant to each school's alumni association, and the Coach of the Year trophy.

Swider was a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award in 2007, the first year Division III coaches were part of the voting process.

Swider is in his 18th season at the helm of the Wheaton football program and has compiled a record of 143-41, with a 77.8% winning percentage. He is ranked among the top-ten winningest active Division III coaches in winning percentage. Swider has guided Wheaton to six College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) championships in his tenure, with six NCAA Division III playoff appearances since 2002. Additionally, the Wheaton Football Ministry Partnership has been an instrumental part of the Thunder football program during Swider's tenure as head coach.Print Friendly Version