Vote Here for Coach K.C. Keeler

Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

BOSTON -- Fans of University of Delaware football will have the chance to vote for Blue Hen head coach K.C. Keeler for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.

Now in its third year, the program allows college football fans to support their school and head coach while at the same time helping to positively change lives off the field.

From now through Dec. 6, fans can log on to www.coachoftheyear.com and vote once per day for Keeler.

Now in his eighth season as head coach at Delaware, Keeler has been among the most successful head coaches in the nation, posting a record of 60-36 and leading the Blue Hens to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision national title in 2003. He has also led the Blue Hens to two conference titles and a berth in the 2007 national title game. His 17-year career record stands at 148-57-1, including nine seasons at Rowan University. He has also been involved in numerous charitable organizations and is active with the Boy’s and Girls’ Club.

This award, the only national college football award that gives fans the ability to help determine the finalists and ultimate winner, celebrates the college football coach in each NCAA division who best exemplifies sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence on and off the field. The winning coach will receive $70,000 toward his favorite charity.

More than just awarding a trophy, Liberty Mutual Insurance has donated $680,000 in three years to support dozens of national and local charities and college scholarship funds on behalf of nine winning coaches. Each winning coach, determined by a combination of online fan voting and an elite selection committee of college football media and College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches, receives $50,000 to donate to the charities of their choice and a $20,000 grant to donate to his school's alumni association to enhance student scholarships and activities.

All head football coaches at an NCAA-member college or university at all division levels are eligible for consideration. The winning coaches will be announced Jan. 6.

Launched in 2006, Liberty Mutual created the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award to celebrate responsible coaching because it is one of the clearest examples of a positive influence on young people, their families and entire communities. Past winners include 2006 – Greg Schiano (Rutgers); 2007 – Ron Zook (Illinois), Jerry Kill (Southern Illinois), Bill O’Boyle (Chadron State), John Gagliardi (Saint John’s); 2008 – Nick Saban (Alabama), Mickey Matthews (James Madison), Chuck Broyles (Pittsburg State), Larry Kehres (Mount Union).