DC’s Alumni Varsity D present Coach of the Year, Honorary Letterman awards on Feb. 4

Ronald Neanen Owen Pugh Shawn Brewer Terry Ranes

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College Alumni Varsity D will present its annual Coach of the Year and Honorary Letterman awards during an event on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Ronald Neanen, Eaton Community Schools head football coach; Owen Pugh, Crestview School varsity softball coach and seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; and Shawn Brewer, Paulding Exempted Village School varsity men’s basketball coach, will receive Coach of the Year honors, and Terry Ranes will be recognized as Honorary Letterman for 2012.

Recognition ceremonies will be held in the Weaner Community Center postgame of the 2 p.m. Yellow Jackets women’s basketball game.

Neanen’s team at Eaton Community Schools had a record year in 2010 finishing 12-1 for the season. They have also achieved six league championships and made seven playoff appearances.

Neanen is a 1979 graduate of DC where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and played football. He and his wife, Cindy, have three daughters and reside in Eaton.

Pugh coached the seventh grade girls’ basketball team to an 8-0 season in which they were the Northwest Conference League and Tournament Champions. He also coached the varsity women’s softball team to a 21-5 season and Northwest Conference Champions. They were also sectional, district and regional champions and the state runner-up team. Pugh was named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year.

Pugh is a 1978 graduate in elementary education and was the men’s basketball manager for three years and an assistant coach for a year under Coach Marv Hohenberger. Pugh and his wife, Karen, have two children and reside in Convoy.

Brewer’s varsity men’s basketball team went 17-6 and made a long-awaited trip back to the district finals. Brewer was named the Division III AP Coach of the Year in Ohio.

Brewer is a 1996 graduate in education. He and his wife ,Cindy, have three children and reside in Paulding.

The Honorary Letterman Award recognizes individuals for their continued commitment and unselfish service to Defiance College athletics.

Ranes, long time athletic facility manager, will be honored for his dedicated service to making sure that all DC sports facilities are always ready for competition and his can-do attitude.

The Alumni Varsity 'D' is an organization created to promote athletics at Defiance College. Membership in the Alumni Varsity 'D' is open to any former student who earned one or more athletic letters in any sport at Defiance College. Former athletes have helped continue the rich tradition of intercollegiate athletics by providing financial support to the many DC athletic programs through membership donations and fundraisers. Alumni Varsity D represents 1,200 student athletes who earned varsity letters at Defiance College.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

January 31, 2012