Elgin's Doug Ingold named Northern Athletics Conference Man of the Year

AURORA, IL (06/25/2013)(readMedia)-- Aurora University's Doug Ingold (Elgin, Ill./Larkin HS) has been selected as the Northern Athletics Conference Man of the Year for the 2012-2013 academic year, as chosen by the league's Senior Woman Administrators' Standing Committee.

"It is a true honor to receive this prestigious acknowledgement as my collegiate career at Aurora University comes to a close," Ingold said. "I would like to thank the Northern Athletics Conference Senior Women Administrators and Aurora University for bestowing this award upon me. Of course, this would have not been possible without my family, teammates, coaches, friends, and professors; all of whom provided me the opportunities to grow and develop as a student-athlete. My experiences as a student-athlete and member of the Aurora community shaped the person that I have become today. I am honored and appreciative to be Northern Athletics Conference Man of the Year."

Ingold an offensive lineman and four-year member of the Spartans' football team, was honored with a First-Team All-NAC award his senior season, which followed a Second-Team All-NAC honor his junior year. He was a team captain in 2012, and was named Second-Team All-North Region by D3football.com.

Ingold graduated in May with a degree in physical education, accumulating a 3.685 GPA. He was a four-year NAC scholar-athlete and made the dean's list as an Ivy Leaf recipient all eight semesters at Aurora.

"Doug Ingold is very deserving of this honor and I know we are all delighted to see Doug receive the recognition for the NAC Man of the Year," AU head football coach Mark Walsh said. "Doug has been successful on the field and in the classroom. His character, work ethic, and reliability are unquestioned, and he has always been at the forefront of community service projects within the football program and athletic department. He is one of the best examples I have ever seen in terms of leadership through his actions and the respect his teammates have for him. Doug has all of the skills and integrity to be successful in life, and I look forward to watching him make his family and our university proud."

In the community, Ingold has been a volunteer coach of the Plano Youth Athletic Baseball Program, a leader at the AU after school sports program and an executive member of the AU Spartan Physical Educator's Club and the Fitness, Physical Educators and Coaches Club during his college career.

"Doug is a consummate Division III Student-Athlete," said AU Director of Athletics James Hamad. "He is a great student, an accomplished player who maximized his abilities, and made a difference on the AU campus and in the community. He has been a contributor in leadership roles both on and off the field and is certainly deserving of this honor."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Doug for the last four years. In that time, Doug has continually impressed me with his work ethic, his leadership, and his character," AU Senior Woman Administrator Nicole Pieart said. "He came to football day in and day out and exemplifies the approach needed to be a successful student-athlete. He set a positive example for the young athletes that when you do things the right way by leading in the classroom, the community and the playing field, good things will come your way. I am so happy Doug was recognized with this honor and while sad to see him go, know he will represent Aurora University well moving forward."

Each of the NAC's 12 co-ed members may nominate one male student-athlete for the annual award. The SWASC uses a combination of the following criteria in selection of the award: athletic excellence, academic achievement, service and leadership, and personal statement.