Doerfler brings home the McAvoy Award

There is not a GLIAC award that I am ever more proud to blog about than a Charger winning the Jack McAvoy Award because it embodies all Hillsdale strives for: character, service, and athletic excellence. It is named in honor of Hillsdale's beloved "Coach Mac" who was head football coach in the 1970's and long-time athletic director. Phil Doerfler, senior center for Hillsdale College is the 2010 recipient.

GLIAC release:

December 13, 2010 For Immediate Release
BAY CITY, Mich. -- Hillsdale College senior offensive lineman Phil Doerfler has been named recipient of the 2010 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Jack H. McAvoy Award as announced by Commissioner Dell Robinson.

The award is presented annually to the GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

A native of Allen Park, Michigan, Doerfler has earned a 3.50 grade point average (4.0 scale) while majoring in biology with a biochemistry minor. He has been named to the GLIAC All- Academic football team three times and was a recipient of the “Scholar-Athlete” Award from the Michigan Chapter of the National FootballFoundation.

Doerfler was a recipient of HillsdaleCollege’s prestigious “Frank G. Brooks”Award for excellence in undergraduate research.

On the field, Doerfler was named a team captain for the 2010 season, earning first team All-GLIAC honors this season, after garnering All-GLIAC second team honors in 2009.

Doerfler helped the Chargers to consecutive NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 2009 and 2010. Hillsdale posted a 26-10 record in his 36 career starts.

“Phil embodies the essence of the true meaning of the word student-athlete,” stated GLIAC Commissioner, Dell Robinson. “He has definitely exemplified a standard of excellence for leadership, academics and athletics that is unmatched. The award speaks volumes to his hard work and commitment and we will look at him as one of our leaders of tomorrow.”

Doerfler has been a leader on the Hillsdale campus and in the Hillsdale community. He is a two-winner of the Hillsdale College football team’s “Urbanick” Award for leadership, scholarship and ability (2009, 2010). Doerfler is an avid volunteer, helping with the Hillsdale College Science Olympiad, as well as working a variety of charity events though his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, where he serves as his chapters’ Sergeant-at-Arms.

Doerfler becomes the second Hillsdale athlete to win the award, joining Mark Nicolet, who garnered the award in 2007. Ferris State has had the most recipients of the award (4), with Michigan Tech and Saginaw Valley State in second with two a piece.

The Award is named for former Hillsdale College director of athletics and head football coach, Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in the founding of the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the GLIAC.