MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Zach Autenrieb from Thomas More College, Luke Heinsohn from Washington and Lee, Nathan Wara from Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Scottie Williams from Elmhurst have been named 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 Saint John's University of Minnesota. The trophy will be presented on Wednesday, December 12, in Salem, Va., at a banquet kicking-off a series of Division III Stagg Bowl championship events.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired in November with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
The final four candidates will be on hand for the banquet. The announcement of the winner and presentation of the trophy will be made at that time.
Background on the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy final four candidates includes statistics through the end of the regular season, academic major and community service:
Zach Autenrieb, Thomas More College (Kentucky), senior DB and an 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.
Luke Heinsohn, Washington and Lee University (Virginia), senior RB/PK and a 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.
Nathan Wara, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, senior QB and a 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 and a 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.
Gagliardi Trophy nominations were submitted by the college president at 21 institutions from Vermont to California and Minnesota to Texas. Finalists were determined by a national selection committee composed of 38 former small college football players, business leaders, academicians and sports writers from around the country. Each committee member casts a ballot ranking the ten finalists.
College football fans also voted online; their tally represented one collective ballot. Williams received the highest number of fan votes with 20,489 total online votes.
The Gagliardi 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.
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. St. John’s hopes to name a successor later this month.
"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 Saint John's University J-Club
Founded in 1959, the Saint 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. Saint John's is a private liberal arts college for men located in Collegeville, Minn.
