DeBerry in contention for coach of the year award Published Oct. 10, 2006 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- Air Force Academy head football coach Fisher DeBerry is in contention for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, given annually to the college football coach who best exemplifies responsibility and excellence on and off the field. Coach DeBerry is in his 23rd season at the academy, and is the winningest service academy coach of all-time with a 167-103-1 career record. He has guided Air Force to 17 winning seasons since taking over in 1984 and has been conference coach of the year three times. Coach DeBerry was the national coach of the year in 1985 after leading Air Force to its first of two 12-1 seasons which is the best mark in school history. The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year will receive a personal trophy, will be featured in a Dec. 16 television special and will be recognized in a coach-of-the-year exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. Liberty Mutual also will award $100,000 to support the winning coach's civic and charitable activities and $20,000 for scholarships to the alumni association of the winning coach's school. The Cheraw, S.C., native and his wife, Lu Ann, are active in several local charities. The pair started the Fisher DeBerry Foundation recently to assist single-parent families with opportunities to attend summer sports and music camps. Coach DeBerry was awarded the State Farm Coach of Distinction Award in 2001 for his charitable activities. Air Force and other fans can vote for Coach DeBerry or any other NCAA coach at www.coachoftheyear.com through Nov. 5. ABC will air a special one-hour program, hosted by Hall of Fame broadcaster Keith Jackson, profiling the 10 finalists Dec. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. The winner will be showcased on a one-hour ABC special hosted by Mr. Jackson Dec. 16.