Image from New Haven Football Foundation

Rossomando enters his fourth season as head football coach at the University of New Haven and in three short seasons, Rossomando has solidified the program as one of the top in the national and has been recognized for his work on and off the field.

The Chargers enjoyed one of the program’s most successful seasons last year. With the second-most wins in program history, New Haven recorded an 11-2 overall record, a perfect 8-0 record in conference play and perfect 10-0 record against Division II opponents in the regular season. Seven members of the team earned All-American honors, while the team received the ECAC Lambert Cup and the Walter Camps Football Foundation Merit Award.

As a team, the Chargers ranked second in Division II in passing efficiency and fifth in scoring offense. Quarterback Ryan Osiecki led the offense with impressive passing numbers and finished second in Division II in passing efficiency. Osiecki was also named the New England Gold Helmet award winner for the 2011 season, while offensive guard David Stedman was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.

Information taken from NewHavenChargers.com

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Louisville Coach Charlie Strong has led his team to an 11-2 season and one of their first appearances in a big-time bowl game. On January 2nd, 2013 they will be taking on #2 Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

Next year, he leads Louisville into the world of the ACC. The jump up to the new conference provides Louisville with stiffer conference competition, but even stronger recruiting capabilities. 

It’s a good thing Charlie Strong will be leading the team. For a while, that fact was in question. Many teams, from UT to Tennessee attempted to entice Coach Strong to join their teams. However, he elected to sign a long-term contract extension through 2020 with Louisville, shocking sports analysts everywhere. 

His rationale was simple: “It’s about being loyal and it’s about when you make a statement, who you really are and your character and your integrity. When you make those statements, you have to be true to those statements.”

Give Coach Charlie Strong your vote today at: http://coachoftheyear.com/

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Coach Staker won the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award in 2010 and he’s in the running again after his successful 2012 season.

The 2012 Coe Kohawks had a fantastic team. They went undefeated in the regular season, and imposed their will on many of their opponents. They averaged 39 points per game, while holding their opponents to just 12 points per game. Some of their games were complete blowouts. They won in week 4 with a score of 51-0, week 5 with a score of 69-7, and week 7 with a score of 47-7.

Of course, Coach Steve Staker gets a lot of credit for installing a high-powered offense, and a strong defense. As far as Coach Staker is concerned, he’s just living the dream: “It was always my dream to coach at the college level. I wouldn’t say it was as a head coach, necessarily. But what a great way to end my coaching career.”

Information from Coe Athletics and The Gazette

Give Steve Staker your vote for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award 2012 today at: http://coachoftheyear.com/

Image from Kirby Lee/US Presswire

UCLA went 9-4 this year, but their record doesn’t tell the whole story. Jim Mora, their new head coach, took a team with an image of being “soft” or “undisciplined”, and implemented a major cultural shift.

The UCLA athletic department seemed to be comfortable with a 6-7 win season. Jim Mora changed that. He created a winning culture that says “we won’t rest on our laurels. Our goal is to be the very best.” He held his coaching staff and players accountable, and he put his money where his mouth is. If a coach or player shirked their responsibility, there were repercussions—as is the case with three players that got kicked off the team for not following rules.

Because of Jim Mora’s leadership and cultural changes, combined with the raw talent UCLA had, the team already looks dramatically better. As the years progress, this team will only get better. Mora has brought in some of the top recruiters, and soon enough the team will begin to be filled with his own recruits. 

Give Jim Mora your vote as Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year 2012 at: http://coachoftheyear.com

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The SEC seen is widely seen as one of the hardest conferences in college football. This year, Texas A&M, led by Coach Kevin Sumlin, joined the SEC conference.

In his first season with the team, the Aggies have a 10-2 record. Included in their win column was an absolutely stunning upset over Alabama in week 11. Johnny Manziel, the A&M QB, became the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy. Their two losses to powerhouse teams Florida and LSU were lost by a combined eight points.

This seems to be just the start for the team. They have an incoming recruiting class of 34 high-talent players, and 247sports.com ranks their team as seventh. 

Give Kevin Sumlin your vote for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award today at http://coachoftheyear.com

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Cerroni is coming off a remarkable season. It was an undefeated season that took them all the way to the conference semi-finals before falling in a devastating loss to another undefeated foe. Coach Cerroni has fielded one of the top teams in UWO history.

However, he’s not all about his winning percentage. He keeps the success of the players in the back of his mind with every decision. He considers himself a passionate coach that is loyal to his players. Each of his players get an opportunity to prove themselves and take on more team responsibility.

In addition to skill, he looks for character and commitment in his recruits; he wants players that don’t hide from responsibility and put in the time and effort to be successful in all of their endeavors. He says that his football program is most successful at instilling leadership in their players; they focus on personal development and making boys into men. 

Information from NCSAsports.org

Give Pat Cerroni your vote for 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year at: www.coachoftheyear.com

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Joe Moglia’s success at Coastal Carolina has been shocking. Many did not know what to expect. Coach Moglia came to the team not with an extensive background as an offensive coordinator, or head coach. He came to the team as the former CEO of TD Ameritrade. He left the company to “pursue other interests” and landed at Coastal Carolina.

While the team has had great success with Moglia at the helm, he’s also had success outside of the confines of the win-loss column. He employs a smaller playbook, and encourages a strong work-life balance with his coaching staff. When he joined the team, he tested each player to figure out their learning style (auditory, visual, kinesthetic) to understand how best to get through to his players. 

He coaches at Coastal Carolina for a few key reasons. For one, his passion for the game. And for two, his passion in helping push his players to the next level. He says: “It’s always about preparing kids for life.”

Information from Wall Street Journal and Daily Press

Vote Joe Moglia as 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year at: www.coachoftheyear.com

When it comes to the success of Glenn Caruso at St. Thomas, the numbers speak for themselves. Coach Caruso took a 2-8 team in 2007 and led them to 54 wins over the last five years. In 2012, the team went undefeated. 

Coach Caruso immerses himself in his football program, and he brings a strong work ethic that he credits to his parents. He expects the same sense of integrity and responsibility from his own coaches and players. 

He would say that hard work is the secret to winning. The success of that philosophy over the last five seasons is undeniable.

Vote for Coach Caruso today at http://coachoftheyear.com

Image from The Birmingham News

Saban has compiled a 153-55-1 (.734) record as a college head coach and has gone 60-7 (.896) in the past five seasons in Tuscaloosa, which includes a 35-5 mark in regular-season conference play. In 2012, the Tide reached the 10-win milestone for the fifth consecutive season under Saban.

Under his guidance, Alabama has remained at the forefront of the college football world in 2012 with an explosive offense and a retooled defense that has remained one of the most dominant units in the nation. The Tide boasts a 12-1 record and a No. 2 national ranking headed into the game against top-ranked Notre Dame. This will be Saban’s third championship game in 4 years.

At Michigan State, the Sabans started the Nick’s Kids Fund, which they have continued in Tuscaloosa, a vibrant example of their continuing concern for disadvantaged children. Since Nick and Terry arrived in Tuscaloosa, more than $2.5 million has been distributed to more than 150 charities through the Nick’s Kids Fund. The Sabans also built 14 homes with Project Team Up and Habitat for Humanity following the April 27, 2011, tornado that stuck Tuscaloosa. In June of 2008, the Sabans announced a $1 million gift to benefit Alabama’s first-generation scholarship program. The gift has a special meaning to the Sabans as both Nick and Terry were first-generation graduates.

Information from RollTide.com

Give Nick Saban your vote for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year today at www.coachoftheyear.com