NIU's Coffman honored with national award
DeKALB - Jake Coffman, the Marine Corps veteran who returned to college football as a 22-year old freshman in 2006 and developed into Northern Illinois University's top defender in 2009, will close out his football career when he is honored as the 2009 Male Athlete of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus at the organization's annual awards banquet Feb. 6 in Columbus, Ohio.
Following the Huskies' appearance in the 2010 International Bowl, Coffman informed Northern Illinois coaches that the 2009 season was his last. The German Valley, Ill. native and Forreston High School product led NIU in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss in his redshirt junior season while playing both defensive end and defensive tackle.
Coffman's teammates selected him as the 2009 Defensive MVP and he was a second team All Mid-American Conference choice.
The Touchdown Club of Columbus presents its Athlete of the Year Award to "the outstanding amateur athlete who exemplifies dedication and leadership both on and off the field of play."
A year ago, Florida State's Myron Rolle, a Rhodes Scholar, was the recipient of this award.
"I heard Jake's story and it made him an easy choice to be our Male Athlete of the Year," said Touchdown Club President Curt Boster. "It's a great story, made greater by what he did on the field and what he meant to the Northern Illinois team. That, and the passion he has for the game, is what made him our choice for this award."
A humble Coffman was incredulous when he heard about the Athlete of the Year honor.
"It's tremendously flattering to be chosen for this honor," Coffman said. "I really didn't believe it when I got the news. It's an honor to end my career going to this event in Columbus to receive this award. I can't really take the credit for it. I just made the plays that the other guys helped me make, and did what I was coached to do. I was surrounded by great players and great coaches, and it was a recipe for success."
Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill said he could not imagine a more deserving candidate for the award than Coffman. "It's a tremendous, tremendous honor for Jake," Kill said. "It's rewarding to see someone who is such a great individual receive an award like this after the season he has had and the contributions he has made to our program. Those contributions pale in comparison to what he has given and done for our country. He is a great representative of his family, the Huskie football program and Northern Illinois University."
Coffman completed two tours in the Middle East during his time in the Marines, and rose to the rank of corporal before walking on to the Huskie team in 2006 at the age of 22. Redshirted in 2006 while acclimating to college life and college football, Coffman played four games for the Huskies in 2007 before injuring his foot and undergoing surgery, forcing him to sit out the rest of the season. He returned to action in 2008 under then-new head coach Jerry Kill and excelled in 11 games, rising to a second team spot at defensive end behind NFL first-round draft choice Larry English.
Entering 2009, Coffman emerged as one of the leaders of a young Huskie team. He started 12 games and finished the season with 8.5 quarterback sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss to lead Northern Illinois. He also tied for the team lead in pass break-ups while making 39 tackles.
When recounting his journey from high school through 2009, Coffman revealed the sentiments that made him the choice for the national honor.
"Eight years ago when I joined the Marines, if you'd have told me I was going to receive an award like this, I'd have laughed in your face," he said. "I came back to play because I missed it and I loved it, not because I thought I was going to get any kind of recognition. I played because I loved it and got rewarded for sticking with it."
The 26-year old Coffman will graduate from Northern Illinois this spring with a degree in sociology.