HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's soccer team recently received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 academic year. It is an award for having a program that excelled in the classroom in addition to its work on the field.

"Achieving an award like this is something we expect from our student-athletes in this program," said men's soccer head coach Paul Leese. "Our team GPA has gone up each year since I arrived at Coker, and it is great to see the continued success we are having in the classroom."

A total of 721 college soccer teams posted a team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher for the 2011-12 academic year. Of that total, 150 schools had both their men's and women's programs recognized. Coker College had both its men's and women's programs fall into this category.

About the NSCAA

Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.

The NSCAA is the world's largest soccer coaches' organization with members at every level of the game. The membership is primarily made up of coaches, but also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members ways to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.

For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations, at 843-383-8018 or cdougherty@coker.edu.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.