Caruso named regional coach of the year

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Coach Glenn Caruso calls the Tommies in during a timeout. Caruso was named west region coach of the year by D3football.com.(Andrew Brinkmann/TommieMedia) 

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso has been named west region coach of the year by d3football.com, and four Tommie players were named to the all-region first team.

Caruso, in his eighth season at St. Thomas, has guided the team to a 13-0 record and the national semifinal game on Saturday against Linfield (Oregon) at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

“It probably speaks less to anyone individual and more to the work and the selflessness that our whole program has,” Caruso said.

Running back Jordan Roberts, tight end Charlie Dowdle and tackle David Simmet were named to the first-team offense. Dowdle and Simmet are seniors; Roberts is a junior. Defensive tackle Ryan Winter, a junior, was named to the first-team defense.

Tackle Will Hilbert and linebacker Jesse Addo were named to the second team. Cornerback Mozus Ikuenobe was a third-team selection.

“Certainly a lot of hard work has to go in for those individuals,” Caruso said. “But I think if you ask them, they would tell you they’d trade it all in for being able to spend one more week together, and that’s really what our focus is on this week.”

The west region offensive and defensive players of the year are both from Linfield: quarterback Sam Riddle and defensive end Alex Hoff.

All-Region teams were selected in balloting by sports information directors in each region and d3football.com staff. All players nominated for All-Region are eligible to be considered for the d3football.com All-America Team. The All-America team will be announced Dec. 18.