Air Force Academy

Dec. 5, 2003

Air Force football offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen has been named the assistant coach of the year for Division I-A by the American Football Coaches Association.

Petersen is in his 14th year at the Academy and fourth year as the offensive coordinator. He has helped the Academy become one of the nation's most prolific offenses. The Academy has ranked among the nation's top five in rushing every year he's been offensive coordinator. Petersen has also developed some of the top quarterbacks in school history. He's coached two players, Chance Harridge and Keith Boyea, to 1,000-1,000 seasons. Petersen also coached Blane Morgan, the winningest quarterback in school history with a 20-3 record.

His contributions to his community and profession are just an outstanding. He is a member of the AFCA Division I-A assistant coaches committee. He has supported financially and with goodwill several mission trips through his local church and is a regular volunteer at Mountain View Elementary School in Colorado Springs.

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.

Along with Petersen, this year's winners include: Division I-AA-Donovan Rose, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Backs Coach, Hampton University; Mike Turner, Offensive Coordinator, Carson-Newman College; Pedro Arruza, Defensive Coordinator, Washington University (Mo.); and Mike Gardner, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator, Tabor 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 criteria for the award are 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 the 2004 AFCA Convention or any other professional development clinic/convention of their choice. They will be honored at the AFCA Kickoff Luncheon, Monday, January 5 at the 2004 AFCA Convention in Orlando, Fla.

The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 10,000 members around the world, ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching."

The Merit Financial Home Mortgage Company is the new presenting sponsor of the AFCA's Assistant Coach of the Year Award. The company, which specializes in home mortgages and related services, is one of the industry's fastest growing companies. Located in Seattle, Wash., it currently ranks No. 1 nationally among wholesale brokers of home mortgages.

AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Finalists for 2003:

Division I-A: Bud Foster (Virginia Tech); Mark Gale (Marshall); Chuck Petersen (Air Force)

Division I-AA: Frank Rocco (Liberty); Donovan Rose (Hampton); Robert Walker (Stephen F. Austin)

Division II: Eric Eidness (South Dakota State); Marty Heaton (Adams State); Mike Turner (Carson-Newman)

Division III: Pedro Arruza (Washington ); Blaise Faggiano (St. John Fisher); Ryan Sulkowski (Chowan)

NAIA: James Dotson (Virginia-Wise); Mike Gardner (Tabor); William Willie (Kansas Wesleyan)