St. Thomas’ Glenn Caruso has been voted the Division III national football Coach of the Year for 2010 in the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year program.
Since his 2008 hiring as St. Thomas head coach, Caruso has guided the best three-year turnaround among all 640 NCAA football programs. He was hired in January 2008 and took over a team that had finished 2-8 in 2007. In his three seasons at St. Thomas he’s led UST to won-loss records of 7-3, 11-2 and 12-1. (Go to St. Thomas magazine for an online review of Caruso's first season – 2008 – featuring Caruso's comments and 10 highlights.)
At age 36, he’s the youngest winner of the Liberty Mutual Award, which was first presented in 2006. The program has honored 17 coaches to date from FBS, FCS, and Division II and III based on their on-field leadership and achievements as well as community service and charity involvement.
Caruso is in Phoenix today with his wife, Rachael, to be introduced at a nationally televised awards program (12:15 p.m., CBS College Sports Network, live video web stream at www.coachoftheyear.com). Caruso and the other 2010 recipients will be recognized tonight during festivities at the BCS Championship Game between Oregon and Auburn.
The award includes a $50,000 gift to Caruso’s designated charities, as well as a $20,000 donation to St. Thomas’ Alumni Association.
In his three seasons at St. Thomas his players have won All-America honors six times, ESPN Academic All-America honors three times, and AFCA Good Works Team honors twice.
His 2010 Tommies compiled the first 10-0 regular-season finish in the school’s 106-year varsity history. They also set a record for season victories in their 12-1 finish, and won the school’s first conference championship since 1990.
Caruso also was voted Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year – the first such honor for a UST football coach since 1993.
Caruso will be in Dallas later this week to receive the Region Coach of the Year award from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
For more details about Caruso’s award see Tommiesports.com.
