MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- One junior and nine seniors were among the 10 finalists for the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy given to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III (D-III) by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John's University of Minnesota. The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, St. John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired this week with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
Union College senior linebacker Noah Joseph was selected as one of 10 national finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy. The four finalists, announced on December 4, were Zach Autenrieb (Thomas More), Luke Heinsohn (Washington & Lee), Nathan Wara (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) and Scottie Williams (Elmhurst).
The Gagliardi Trophy will be presented on Wednesday, December 12, in Salem, Va., home of the Stagg Bowl, at a banquet kicking-off the D-III championship weekend. Candidates are nominated by their college president. The top four vote-getters, as determined by a national selection committee, will be on hand for the banquet; announcement of the winner and presentation of the trophy will be made at that time.
The 2012 finalists are: (bios below)
Zach Autenrieb (Sr., DB) - Thomas More
Nick Driskill (Sr., DB) - Mount Union
McCallum Foote (Jr., QB) - Middlebury
Wyatt Hanus (Sr., QB) - Dubuque
Luke Heinsohn (Sr., RB-K) - Washington & Lee
Curtis James (Sr., C) - St. Thomas
Noah Joseph (Sr., LB) - Union
Craig Sykes (Sr., LB) - Heidelberg
Nate Wara (Sr., QB) - Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Scottie Williams (Sr., RB) - Elmhurst
The last Union player to be selected as a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy was LB John Peters, a senior in 2009. Union has had four players selected, including RB Tom Arcidiacono '05 and LB Marco Lainez '94. Joseph is one of four defensive players selected to the final 10 this year.
Joseph carries a 3.91 GPA in Chemistry and Sociology and was a Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. He is eligible for Academic All-American honors (to be announced on December 6). He was one of only three players selected unanimously to the Liberty League All Star First Team. He led the Liberty League with 105 tackles and also had three for losses. He is only the 16th Dutchmen to record 200 career tackles and his single season total ranks seventh all-time at Union. Joseph was a three time Liberty League weekly honoree and was named to the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. Joseph ranked #45 nationally in NCAA Division III in total tackles. He had six games with 11 or more tackles. He had 17 in the opener vs. Salve Regina and 14 against both Rochester and #7 Hobart. Joseph had 12 solos vs. Salve Regina and 10 solos at Ithaca. In his final game, he helped Union bring "The Dutchman Shoes Trophy" back to campus with 11 tackles in a win at RPI.
The Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee is composed of 38 former small college football players, business leaders, academicians and sports writers from around the country. Each casts a ballot ranking the 10 finalists.
The trophy design features a sculpture of Gagliardi and a player representing the teacher-coach and the student-athlete in a classic one-on-one sideline consultation. Hand-cast in bronze on a polished wood base, the trophy stands nearly two-feet tall and weighs 64 pounds. The words "Division III Player of the Year" and "Honoring Excellence in Football, Academics and Community Service" are etched in glass on two panels flanking the figures. Record-setting wide receiver Michael Zweifel from Dubuque was the 2011Gagliardi Trophy winner.
The 2012 Gagliardi Trophy other nine finalists capsules (statistics are through end of regular season, November 10):
Zach Autenrieb, Thomas More College (Kentucky) senior DB accounting major
National D-III leader with 8 interceptions in 2012 (2 returned for TDs), 32 INTs for his career. Honor roll student. Volunteer engagement includes Special Olympics, Relay for Life.
Nick Driskill, University of Mount Union (Ohio) senior S exercise science major
Safety on D-III's top defense allowing only 156.7 yards and 4.5 points/game. National Science Foundation Scholar Athlete. Volunteers with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and youth outreach.
McCallum Foote, Middlebury College (Vermont) junior QB economics major
Tops in D-III with 32 completions per game; threw 31 TD passes. Responsible for 24.8 points/game. Dean's list student. Volunteers with Special Olympics and served as a teacher's assistant in Spain.
Wyatt Hanus, University of Dubuque (Iowa) senior QB accounting/business marketing major
Conference offense MVP; 9th nationally with 316.5 yards passing/game. Academic all-region. Volunteer engagement includes Special Olympics, shelter for homeless women and children, YMCA.
Luke Heinsohn, Washington and Lee University (Virginia) senior RB/PK business administration major
National scoring leader (all divisions) with 180 points 21 TDs);kicked FG in 4-overtime win. Off-field engagement includes American Cancer Society, Bike MS, directing fellowship music program.
Curtis James, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) senior C business administration major
Center on offensive line that allowed only 8 sacks in 2012; 5 teammates had 100-yard rushing games. Off-campus activities include serving as head speech coach at local high school.
Craig Sykes, Heidelberg University (Ohio) senior LB biology major
Play-caller for 11th-ranked scoring defense; had 2 INTs. Academic All-American. Serves students with special needs and as peer tutor.
Nathan Wara, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior QB physical education major
Helped team to first-ever playoff berth; threw 22 TDs and 1 INT in 10 games. Member all-conference honor roll. Volunteer engagement includes food pantry, Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity.
Scottie Williams, Elmhurst College (Illinois) senior RB marketing major
Conference offensive player of the year; 2nd in rushing nationally, 7th in scoring. Academic All-American. Active with campus interfaith and community service project, church bible school.
About John Gagliardi
After 489 career victories in his 64 seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level, John Gagliardi announced his retirement on Monday, November 19.
“Seventy years (60 at SJU) is a long time to be doing the same job,” Gagliardi said. “Luckily, I've always been blessed with great players, friends, family and support to make it this far."
Gagliardi will remain on staff until his current contract expires June 30, 2013. The search process for his replacement begins immediately.
"Arguably, John Gagliardi has impacted the lives of as many young men as any individual in the history of Saint John's University,” SJU President Dr. Michael Hemesath said. “His legacy of educating young men at Saint John's is one that any coach or professor would envy. The kind of loyalty and commitment John showed to Saint John's and his student-athletes is rare and exemplary. It is an example of how John modeled good character and ethical behavior for his student-athletes and the community for 60 years."
About Jostens
Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. The company's products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational and trade publishing segments.
About St. John's University J-Club
Founded in 1959, the St. John's University J-Club is a dues-based booster organization of former Johnnie student-athletes, parents and fans, and plays a key role in support of the SJU varsity programs, intramurals and club sports. St. John's is a private liberal arts college for men located in Collegeville, Minn.
