Robert Coury Named Semifinalist for 2024 Gagliardi Trophy Presented by Stearns Bank For Second Straight Year
(COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.) – Carnegie Mellon University graduate student linebacker Robert Coury has been named one of the 18 semifinalists for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy Presented by Stearns Bank on Thursday. This marks the second straight season that Coury has been named a semifinalist.
A mechanical engineering major who carries a 3.97 GPA and is currently pursuing his master's in mechanical engineering is the only Tartan to be named a semifinalist or finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy. Coury is also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which will be announced on December 10.
The list of 18 semifinalists features another quarterback-heavy class, as well as nominees from all six NCAA regions. Nearly all the semifinalists participated in at least the first round of the Division III playoffs. There are five nominees that return from last year's list, including Coury and the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy recipient, quarterback back Luke Lehnen from North Central College.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, December 19, on D3football.com. Host Pat Coleman will profile the finalists during the program. The 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship game. In the lead up to the announcement of the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement.
The Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee is comprised of 18 Division III coaches (three from each NCAA Region), six Division III administrators (one from each region), 12 regional notable voters (two from each region) and six national voters with Division III backgrounds. A fan vote, which runs until December 13, is live on D3football.com. VOTE
Coury headed a Tartans defense for the third consecutive season that led the PAC in scoring. The three-year captain headed a Tartans defense that at the end of the regular season led the PAC in total defense and were ranked second nationally. Including the second round NCAA playoff game, the defense has allowed 219.5 yards per game of total offense. The Cardinal and Gray also led the league averaging 9.2 tackles for loss per game which ranks second in the nation. The defense has held 10 opponents under 100 yards on the ground and broke a school record when holding Centre to -33 yards rushing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The rushing defense was ranked second in the PAC and currently fifth nationally and has allowed 45.4 yards per game.
A four-time First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) honoree, Coury led the defense for the fifth straight season in tackles (71) and fourth straight season in tackles for loss (17.0) while also leading the squad with 5.0 sacks. He ranks third in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in tackles for loss, 11th in sacks and 14th in total tackles. The senior has also forced four fumbles, recovered two fumbles and had one blocked punt this season. His four forced fumbles are the top in the PAC in fourth nationally. He currently has 360 career tackles and 63.5 tackles for loss, ranking tops all-time in program history in both categories.
Coury is a two-time Academic All-America by the College Sports Communicators America. He has volunteered at the Western Spring Sectional competition of the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, Get in the Game - Be The Match and Rise Against Hunger. Coury has worked on numerous projects, including the Smart Walk Design Prototype where he designed a walker attachment using sensor to vibration motor communication to benefit disabled individuals.
The inside linebacker has been a manufacturing engineer intern for Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of Volvo Group, as well as a construction project management intern for Tesla and Curtiss-Wright as a mechanical engineering intern. He is a member of Undergraduate Consulting Club, Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, the Sports Analytics Club and Cru at Carnegie Mellon.