Robert Coury Named Finalist for 2024 Gagliardi Trophy Presented by Stearns Bank
(COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.) – Carnegie Mellon University graduate student linebacker Robert Coury has been announced as one of five finalists for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy, presented by Stearns Bank and the J-Club of Saint John's University (Minn.). The award is presented to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.
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 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 which included a "fan" vote which ran until December 13th. No Saint John's J-Club members vote as part of the national-selection committee.
Coury is joined by four quarterbacks to represent the finalists that were chosen from the 18 semifinals announced early this month.. Illinois College's Destin Chance leads NCAA Division III in total offense (417.9 yds/game.) Last year's Gagliardi Trophy recipient, North Central's Luke Lehnen, leads the country in passing efficiency (205.4). Aaron Syverson of Saint John's leads the division in passing yards per game (365.2 yds.) and Cortland State's Zac Boyes led the Dragons to the 2023 national championship. Coury along with the other finalists were all semifinalists for the Gagliardi Trophy in 2023.
Coury becomes the first player in program history to be named a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy. Last week, Coury was honored at the 2024 National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame's 66th Annual Awards Dinner as a NFF Scholar-Athlete and a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, an award regarded as the academic equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
The finalists were announced by Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi during a live show on D3football.com on Thursday, December 19. The 2024 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on the evening of Friday, January 3. In the lead up to the announcement of the winner, D3football.com will provide updates on the specific timing of the announcement.