PHILADELPHIA - The Maxwell Club, the oldest football club in America, and presenting partner Philadelphia Insurance Companies, announced Friday that West Chester University head coach Bill Zwann has been selected as the winner of the Club's 16th Tri-State Coach of the Year and that West Chester's Rondell White was chosen as the Club's 13th Brian Westbrook Tri-State Player of the Year.
Zwaan completed his 11th year as head coach of the Golden Rams, having put together one of the most impressive seasons in school history. West Chester's 2013 campaign came to a close in the NCAA Division II national semifinals on Dec. 14 with a 42-14 setback to Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C. However, the Golden Rams set a new school record for wins in a single season, going 13-2 overall. As a result, West Chester was ranked fourth in the final AFCA coaches' poll.
In 11 years on West Chester's sideline, Zwaan has masterminded a 90-45 record. He sports an overall record of 144-59 in 17 years as a head coach. He is a two-time winner of the Maxwell Club Tri-State Coach of the Year, having previously won the award in 2001 while at Widener University.
White, a 5-11, 190-pound senior was one of the top players in the country at the Division II level this season. He rushed for 1,989 yards and 21 touchdowns on an NCAA Division II-record 406 carries. White also caught 75 passes for 843 yards and an additional three touchdowns. For the season, he accounted for 3,107 all-purpose yards, a 207.1 average per game, which ranked fifth in Division II. His 3,107 all-purpose yards is second highest in a single season at the Division II level behind only Danny Woodhead's total of 3,159 for Chadron State in 2006.
White is the second West Chester University football player to be honored by the Maxwell Football Club. Former quarterback, Bill Zwaan Jr., was named the tri-state player of the year after his senior campaign of 2007.
White's efforts during the 2013 campaign earned him recognition as the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year and a spot on the AP Little All-America team as a first team selection. He was also selected first team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). White finished fifth in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is presented to the Division II Player of the Year. He currently holds 21 school records at West Chester.
During his career with the Golden Rams, White amassed over 4,000 yards rushing, 2,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards in kick returns. He is only the second player in NCAA history at any level to accomplish that feat, joining Villanova's Brian Westbrook in that exclusive club. Westbrook was the first winner of the Maxwell Club's Tri-State Player of the Year Award, which now bears his name.
Zwaan and White will be honored Friday, March 14, 2014, at the 77th Maxwell Club National Awards Gala which will be held at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. Also receiving awards at this event will be; A.J. McCarron - Alabama (Maxwell Award), Aaron Donald - Pittsburgh (Chuck Bednarik Award), David Cutcliffe - Duke (MFC National Collegiate Coach of the Year), and Mike Ditka (MFC Excellence in Broadcasting Award). The Maxwell Football Club will announce the winners of the Bert Bell Award (Professional Player of the Year) and Earl "Greasy" Neale Award (Professional Coach of the Year) on January 8, 2014.
Tickets for the Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala are available for purchase on the Club's website
https://maxwellfootballclub.org/event-tickets/maxwell-football-club-national-awards-gala or by calling 215-643-3833.
Questions concerning any of the Maxwell Football Club's awards or programs can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert at
info@maxwellfootballclub.org.
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About the Maxwell Football Club
The Maxwell Football Club (MFC) was founded in 1935 and is a registered 501c3 Non-Profit Corporation. The MFC promotes and recognizes excellence at all levels of football from youth leagues through the professional ranks. Each year the MFC offers programs which focus on player and coach development, safety, and player wellness. The Club also presents many of the premiere awards in the football world each year. Membership is open and additional information on the Club can be found at
www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
About Philadelphia Insurance
Philadelphia Insurance Companies designs, markets, and underwrites commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance products incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. In operation since 1962, the Company, whose commercial lines insurance subsidiaries are rated "A++" (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and "A+" for counterparty credit and financial strength by Standard & Poor's, is nationally recognized as a member of Ward's Top 50, National Underwriter's Top 100, and one of the Top 150 Workplaces in America. The organization has 48 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service. For more information, please visit
www.PHLY.com.
