Nov. 28, 2007

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University's Tom Matukewicz was named the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the Football Championship Subdivision Wednesday. Matukewicz coaches the linebackers and serves as the Salukis' running game coordinator.

One assistant coach in the five different divisions of college football were selected for their dedication to their teams and communities.

Matukewicz is in his seventh year at SIU and 14th overall. He is very active in his church, serving the congregation as a member of the set-up committee.

Matukewicz participates in community service events such as an annual Head Start Easter Egg Hunt and a local fishing derby for kids with special needs. He also serves in a local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Bible Study for People of Sport and has been an active member of the local International Toastmasters Association.

A member of the AFCA Professional Development Series (PDS) committee, Matukewicz has been part of three Gateway Conference championships in the last four years at SIU. He has coached a number of all-Gateway linebackers, including current NFL All-Pro LB Bart Scott.

Matukewicz begins each position meeting with five minutes of character developmment and makes personal goal-setting a priority for each of his players.

Other 2007 honorees include:
Football Bowl Subdivision - Calvin Magee, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator & Running Backs Coach, West Virginia
Division II - Scott Boswick, Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach, Northwest Missouri State
Division III - Neal Neathery, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Wabash College
NAIA - Ryan Nourse, Defensive Coordinator, Morningside College

"Once again, five outstanding assistant coaches have been selected for their dedication, not only to their teams, but to their communities," said Executive Director Grant Teaff. "Often times, the head coach receives much of the credit for his team's success. Any head coach is only as good as his assistants. Much of an assistant coach's work is done behind the scenes. It is our pleasure to bring it to the forefront."

The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.

The criteria for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability and the success of the team and players that these assistant coaches have worked with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all taken into account in the selection process.

Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate the award and an educational stipend to attend the 2009 AFCA Convention or any other professional development clinic/convention of their choice. They will be honored at the AFCA Kickoff Luncheon, Monday, January 7 at the 2008 AFCA Convention in Anaheim, California.

Fifty-five assistant coaches from 47 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 ... Campbellsville (NAIA) and Hampton (Division I-AA) lead all schools with three winners each ... Campbellsville's three Assistant Coach of the Year Winners came in three straight years (1997-Samuel Wickliffe, 1998-Eric Graves, 1999-Haywood Riner) ... Hampton won its three awards in 1997 (Alonzo Wright), 1998 (John Wright) and 2003 (Donovan Rose) ... Air Force, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State and Wabash have had two winners each.