Bill Text: MS SC575 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognize Delta State University Football Coach Ron Roberts, NCAA Division II "Coach of the Year".
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2011-02-03 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC575 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-SC575-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Clarke, Simmons, Jackson (11th), Brown, Butler (38th), Carmichael, Davis, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th), Montgomery, Watson
Senate Concurrent Resolution 575
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL COACH RON ROBERTS FOR RECEIVING THE NCAA DIVISION II "COACH OF THE YEAR" AWARD.
WHEREAS, on January 7, 2011, FieldTurf announced the winners of its 5th Annual Football Awards for the 2010 season, which featured Delta State University Head Football Coach Ron Roberts as recipient of the NCAA Division II "Coach of the Year"; and
WHEREAS, the FieldTurf Coach of the Year Awards recognize a coach's dedication and hard work both on and off the field. The coaches that have been and will be selected for this award all exemplify outstanding leadership skills and enjoy well-deserved success. Special attention is given to coaches who are able to significantly improve their team's effort, performance and overall record from previous years, along with coaches who enjoy success with young and inexperienced teams. The FieldTurf Team of the Year Awards acknowledge teams at all levels of sports that shows a passion for the game, along with dedication to team play. The teams selected for this award are teams that have enjoyed success and/or made considerable improvements from previous years within their respective leagues; and
WHEREAS, after being named the 17th Head Football Coach at Delta State University in January 2007, Ron Roberts has continued the task of building one of the most dominant programs in DSU history over the past three seasons. The Statesmen's defense, already an imposing force unto itself, continued to mature while the new look "spread" offense highlighted the athletic talents of many newcomers along with some familiar faces; and
WHEREAS, prior to joining the DSU staff, Roberts served one season as Head Coach at Mount Whitney High School in Visalia, California, and the 2003 season as Defensive Coordinator at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. While at TSU, Roberts took over a defense ranked near the bottom in the Southland Conference. Within a year the seasoned coordinator improved TSU's defense in virtually every statistical category and Texas State placed two defenders on the All-Southland Conference Defensive Team. Before his journey to Texas State, Roberts spent five seasons as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Tusculum College. During his tenure at the Greenville, Tennessee, school, the Pioneers posted one of the most memorable runs in TC football history. In 2002, Roberts guided a defense that led the South Atlantic Conference in yards (273) allowed per game and in points per game (15). Prior to joining the Tusculum staff, Roberts served as an Assistant Coach at Greensboro College in 1998 and was Head Coach at Burroughs High School (1994-1996) in California. He began his coaching career at Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee, as a Defensive Coordinator; and
WHEREAS, the Delta State 2010 NCAA Division II Championship game on December 18, 2010, was a game of ebbs and flows, turnovers and miscues on both sides, and a game of tremendous defense and high-flying offense. In the end, Minnesota-Duluth made the key plays at the end of the game, making a second field goal, a 32-yard effort, as the clock expired to give the Bulldogs (15-0) a 20-17 victory over Delta State and the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Statesmen ended the season 11-4, while becoming the first unranked team to ever play for the NCAA Division II National Championship. The No. 18 Delta State University Football Team placed five players on the Daktronics All-Super Regional II Second Team; and
WHEREAS, Roberts was a two-time All-Conference selection at linebacker at the College of Sequoias in his native Visalia, California. He transferred to the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he helped guide them to the 1988 Gulf South Conference Championship. He graduated from UT-Martin with a degree in sociology and later earned his masters degree in education from the University of Memphis in 1992. Roberts is married to the former Didi Walker of Germantown, Tennessee. The couple are the parents of three children: Reed, Reilly and Ryan; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge this special award to an individual who has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and congratulate Delta State University Head Football Coach Ron Roberts for receiving the FieldTurf NCAA Division II "Coach of the Year" Award and for winning the NCAA Super Region II Championship, and extend to him our best wishes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Roberts, forwarded to Delta State University President Dr. John M. Hilpert and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
