Nov. 15, 2006

Wayne State University head football coach Paul Winters was named the 2006 GLIAC Coach of the Year today in balloting by the league's head coaches.

Winters becomes the first WSU football coach so honored by the GLIAC since Dick Lowry in 1975. He led Wayne State to its first winning season on the field since 1993, and only its third winning campaign in the last 22 years. His squad was ranked in the top 20 nationally in both rushing offense and kickoff return average and came within five points of setting the school record for points scored in a season. The six league victories was the most in school history.

In addition, record-setting freshman running back Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) was voted GLIAC Freshman of the Year and GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year.

Bell became just the 14th back in NCAA Division II history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season by gaining 2,065 yards on 348 carries. His 187.7 rushing yards per game ranked second in the nation at the end of the regular season, while his all-purpose average of 223.8 yards per game also ranked second in the country.

He set WSU and GLIAC records for rushing yards in a season, all-purpose yards in a season while setting school marks for rushing touchdowns (22) and total touchdowns (23) in a season. One of 24 candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, Bell was also named First Team All-GLIAC.

Joining Bell on the All-GLIAC First Team were junior place-kicker David Chudzinski (Belleville, Mich.) and senior defensive back Derrion Fuqua (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford/Grand Rapids C.C.).

Chudzinski set WSU records for consecutive PATs made in a season and career, most field goals made in a season and kicking points in one year. In addition, he led the GLIAC in field goals made, field goal percentage and tied-for-first in PAT percentage. Wayne State was third in the GLIAC in kickoff coverage.

Fuqua led the Warriors in passes defended (pass break-ups plus interceptions) while leading the squad with 53 solo tackles. He forced one fumble and tied for team-high honors with two fumble recoveries. Fuqua was second among all GLIAC players with 10 pass break-ups.

Voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team were sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Cue (Davie, Fla./Pace), senior offensive lineman Grant Fodor (Lake Orion, Mich.) and sophomore return specialist Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly).

Cue and Fodor were key contributors to the WSU offense which placed third in the GLIAC in rushing offense and fourth in total offense.

Dunn led the GLIAC in kickoff return average (26.8) and recorded just one of two kickoff returns for a touchdown in the GLIAC this season. He was second in the league in total kickoff return yards.

Named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team were sophomore linebacker Tristan Black (Toronto, Ont./Vanier Prep), junior linebacker Alan Guy (Rochester Hills, Mich./Adams), junior tight end John Rehberg (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson), senior defensive end Chris Smilo (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton), senior defensive back Ty Spencer (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King/Grand Rapids C.C.) and senior wide receiver Jake Weingartz (Lapeer, Mich./East).