University of Delaware Football Head Coach K.C. Keeler to Receive Maxwell Football Club Tri-State Coach of the Year Friday
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Photo Courtesy of Chris Permar
March 3, 2011
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- University of Delaware football head coach K.C. Keeler, who earlier this year led the Blue Hens to a berth in the national championship game and received two national coach of the year awards, will add yet another honor to the list Friday night when he receives the Tri-State Coach of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club.
Keeler will be among several coaches and athletes honored at the annual awards dinner the Harrah’s Entertainment Complex.
The 13th annual Tri-State Coach of the Year Award honors the outstanding college coach in the Delaware Valley. Keeler, who also was presented the award following the 2003 and 2007 seasons, will join legendary Penn State head coach Joe Paterno as the only coaches to win the award three times.
Among those also being honored Friday will be Villanova offensive lineman Ben Ijalana as the Tri State Player of the Year, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid as NFL’s most outstanding coach (Earle “Greasy” Neal Award), Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick as the outstanding Professional Player of the Year (Professional Player of the Year), Auburn quarterback Cam Newton as the College Player of the Year (Maxwell Award),
Delaware enjoyed one of the finest seasons in its illustrious history in 2010 as Keeler led the Blue Hens to a 12-3 record, a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title, and a berth in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. Delaware stormed through the NCAA Tournament this fall, defeating Lehigh, New Hampshire, and Georgia Southern in order at home before falling to top-ranked Eastern Washington 20-19 in the title game Friday night in Frisco, Texas.
The Blue Hens, who posted a 6-5 record during the 2009 season, opened the 2010 campaign ranked No. 16 in The Sports Network poll and No. 19 in the FCS Coaches poll but quickly moved up, winning their first seven games of the season. Delaware was ranked No. 1 in the nation for two weeks (Nov. 8-15) in the Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the TSN rankings (Nov. 15) before taking a No. 5 ranking into the post-season.
In January, Keeler was selected as the 2010 American Football Coaches Association FCS National Coach of the Year, which is selected from a vote of college head coaches. He also received the Liberty Mutual FCS National Coach of the Year Award, which recognizes coaches for their sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence, on and off field. The award selected by a committee of College Football Hall of Fame members, media members, and from an on-line fan vote.
Keeler, now in his ninth season at the helm of the Blue Hens, was making his third appearance in the FCS championship game and his eighth championship game showing overall, which included five title game berths while head coach at NCAA Division III Rowan (N.J.) University. He led the Blue Hens to the NCAA national title in 2003, a runner-up finish to Appalachian State in 2007, and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2004.
His teams have also won three conference titles, three Lambert Cup Trophies as the top team in the East, and three Eastern College Athletic Conference Team of the Year awards. His 10 total trips to the NCAA semifinals is second all-time among all NCAA head coaches. He owns a nine-year record of 74-42 (.638) at Delaware and an 18-year overall mark of 162-63-1 (.719).
Keeler guided a balanced Blue Hen attack in 2010 that featured 16 all-conference players and a group of four All-Americans in senior quarterback Pat Devlin, freshman running back Andrew Pierce, senior free safety Anthony Bratton, and senior cornerback Anthony Walters. Delaware led the nation in scoring defense all season, allowing just 11.5 points per game prior to the national championship game.
In addition to the four All-Americans, Devlin, senior wide receiver Mark Mackey, and senior tight end/deep snapper Zack Reed earned ESPN/College Sports Information Directors of America District 2 All-Academic honors, and senior defensive tackle Siddiq Haynes was named the national Team Captain for the Allstate AFCA Good Works team for outstanding community service.
