VOTE NOW!!!  |  Bob Spoo Coach Of The Year Video

National voting for the Liberty Mutual FCS National Coach of the Year opens today, Dec. 15, and long time Eastern Illinois head football coach Bob Spoo is one of five finalists for the award. National fan voting will make up 20 percent of the final vote for the national coach of the year, so please vote daily for Coach Spoo at www.coachoftheyear.com  

Now in its fourth year of heralding college football coaches who demonstrate sportsmanship, integrity and responsibility on and off the field, Liberty Mutual Insurance named EIU Head Football Coach Bob Spoo one of five Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) finalists for the 2009 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. If he wins, Liberty Mutual will award Coach Spoo $50,000 to donate to the charity of his choice and a $20,000 grant to donate to the Eastern Illinois alumni association for student scholarships and activities. Winners will be announced January 6, 2010, in Los Angeles, in advance of the BCS Championship Game.

Joining Coach Spoo among the five FCS finalists are, in alphabetical order: Tom Gilmore, College of the Holy Cross; Jerry Moore, Appalachian State University; Danny Rocco, Liberty University; and, John Stiegelmeier, South Dakota State University.

Between December 15 and December 29 fans can visit www.CoachoftheYear.com to vote among the finalists. Fan votes constitute 20 percent of a coach's final score.

To ensure candidates are evaluated fairly and measured against the specific values of responsibility and integrity, selection committees of College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches – including Archie Manning, Lou Holtz, Vince Dooley, Ronnie Lott, and Jerry Rice – and the national college football media will also cast votes for the winners. Hall of Fame and media votes account for 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.