WACO, Texas (Nov. 19, 2019) - The American Football Coaches Association proudly announced its 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year winners Tuesday and in the process recognized Colorado State University-Pueblo Defensive Coordinator Donnell Leomiti as the 2019 NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.

"I'm very honored and privileged to receive this award and to represent this great University," Leomiti said. "It all starts with the leadership of Dr. Paul Plinske and Head Coach John Wristen. I'm fortunate to work with a great staff, but ultimately we have great players that love the program and have bought in."

One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities. A total of 53 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA were nominated in 2019.

Leomiti is in his 12th year as an assistant coach at CSU-Pueblo, while it marks the third as a defensive coordinator. He has coached the defensive backs since he helped bring back the program in 2008. This season, the Pack defense finished the regular season first in NCAA Division II in interceptions (26), sacks (3.82 spg) and defensive touchdowns (9), second in turnovers gained (32), fourth in rushing defense (60.9 ypg), fifth in scoring defense (14.5 ppg) and eighth in team passing efficiency defense (96..93). The Pack were 18th in the nation in total defense (287 ypg) at the end of the regular season.

In 11 seasons coaching the secondary, Leomiti has guided nine All-Americans, 15 All-Region selections and a total of 34 All-RMAC selections. Leomiti was the 2018 FootballScoop Coordinator of the Year. 

"I'm so proud of Coach Leomiti and the staff," Wristen said. "People gain strength from adversity and Coach Leo has demonstrated that. He has outstanding leadership skills and the athletes respond. The student-athletes have so much respect for Coach Leo and that comes from the level of dedication he has brought to this program for the past 12 years."

Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee.

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.

"Once again, five outstanding assistant coaches have been selected for their dedication, not only to their teams, but to their communities," said AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry. "Oftentimes, the head coach receives much of the credit for his team's success, but 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 is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work 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 their recognition. They will be honored at the AFCA Honors Luncheon, presented by Amway, held Monday, January 13, during the 2020 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 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 No. 9 ThunderWolves went 10-1 overall and 9-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Pack are riding an eight-game winning streak into the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs, as CSU-Pueblo is set to make its third straight postseason appearance. The ThunderWolves earned the No. 4 seed in Super Region Four and will host Augustana University, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl. 

LEOMITI NOMINATION

Leomiti has been a college coach for 14 years, the last 12 at CSU-Pueblo ... Actively volunteers with the YMCA, Special Olympics, the United Way and several other mentoring programs ... He speaks at various organizations about his battle with pancreatic cancer ... Active in other organizations throughout the year such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life and the Praise Assembly Church ... Named the FootballScoop Coordinator of the Year in 2018, as he has consistently led Colorado State-Pueblo to one of the best defenses in the country. 

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.