Rome Native Jim Catanzaro Named Finalist for DIII Coach of the Year

LAKE FOREST, IL (12/18/2012)(readMedia)-- BOSTON – December 4, 2012 – At hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, college football coaches devote fall Saturdays to executing their game strategies in hopes of leading their teams to victory. However, in Division III, there are five coaches whose dedication and commitment are felt beyond the field of play, helping to promote academic excellence among their student-athletes and through charitable acts in their communities. Today, Liberty Mutual Insurance recognizes Lake Forest College Head Football Coach Jim Catanzaro (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), one of five D-III finalists for the 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, the premier college football-coaching honor that promotes charity and scholarship while also honoring coaches for their sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence, on and off the field.

The five D-III finalists were determined as a result of fan voting through CoachOfTheYear.com and Twitter from September 12 through December 1, and evaluated through an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame. To qualify for this model, each coach was among the top 15 in fan votes in Division III. Those coaches were then evaluated against a series of on- and off-field criteria; including wins, team penalties, sportsmanship, academic performance by the student-athletes, and charitable commitments in their communities and beyond.

"We have heard first-hand by Lake Forest College fans' voting that Coach Catanzaro is a clear example of what it means to be a true leader both on the field and in the community," said James MacPhee, senior vice president and Chief Marketing Officer at Liberty Mutual Insurance "We applaud Coach Catanzaro's commitment to the values that help shape the players he coaches and sense of service to the community in which he lives and are pleased to celebrate him as one of this year's finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award in Division III."

Coach Catanzaro joins a class of five Division III finalists for the 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award including, in alphabetical order: Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas (Minn.); Pat Cerroni, Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Lonnie Pries, Concordia-Chicago; and Steve Staker, Coe (Iowa).

"Many coaches are recognized for success based on season ending win/loss records and while Coach Cat certainly strives for success in that regard, it is his record of success in teaching "life lessons" that sets him apart," said Lake Forest College Director of Athletics Jackie Slaats. "These lessons are displayed daily in the character of our team and our alumni and in the pride and camaraderie that surrounds the entire Forester football program. Our athletic department prides itself in a long and storied Tradition of Excellence and I couldn't be happier or prouder to have Coach Cat be recognized for going above and beyond in inspiring excellence in academics, athletics, and community service and engagement. We are truly honored to have him named as a finalist for the 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award."

Show Jim Catanzaro Your Support – Tweet Your Vote at Coachoftheyear.com

Beginning today through December 20, Lake Forest College fans can log their Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year vote for Coach Jim Catanzaro by visiting coachoftheyear.com on their PC, tablet or mobile device and posting a pre-populated tweet. As part of Liberty Mutual's partnership with the National Football Foundation, a selection committee of more than 50 College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches, including Archie Manning, Lou Holtz, Vince Dooley, Ronnie Lott, Archie Griffin; as well as national college football media, such as Colin Cowherd, Stewart Mandel and Tim Brando, will evaluate the coaches based on their responsibility, integrity and on-field success to help determine the four coaching winners from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II and Division III. Winners are ultimately determined using the following voting weight: Fans 20 percent, College Football Hall of Fame 55 percent, and Media 25 percent.

Liberty Mutual will announce the four winners the morning of the BCS Championship game, January 7, 2013, in South Florida. The Division III coaching winner will receive a $50,000 donation from Liberty Mutual to the charity or charities of his choice, as well as a $20,000 scholarship grant in their name to their school's alumni association. Since 2006, the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award has celebrated the work of its 21 winners by donating more than $1.5 million to over 90 charities and college alumni scholarship funds. If Jim Catanzaro is named 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year for the Football Championship Subdivision, he will join former winners in the Division III, including: the award's only two-time winner, Glenn Caruso, University of St. Thomas (MN) (2011; 2010); Steve Staker, Coe College (2009); Larry Kehres, Mount Union College (2008) and John Gagliardi, Saint John's University (2007).

Lake Forest College fans can visit coachoftheyear.com, and connect with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/LMCoachoftheYear, Tumblr at LMcoachofyear.tumblr.com or Twitter at @lmcoachofyear.