Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Plymouth State head coach Paul Castonia has been selected New England Coach of the Year for Divisions II and III, as voted on by the New England Football Writers' Association.

Castonia (pictured) is the first Plymouth State coach to win the award, which will be presented at the New England Football Writers' Awards and Captains Banquet on Dec. 11, at Casa di Fior in Wilmington, Mass.  Also being honored that evening will be PSU senior running back Jeff Mack (Milford), who was named to the New England Football Writers' All-New England Team for Divisions II and III last week for the second straight year.

Now in his sixth year at PSU, Castonia led the Panthers to the New England Football Conference Championship in 2008, and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. It was PSU's first conference title since sharing the Freedom Football Conference championship in 2001, and it was Plymouth State's first visit to the NCAA Championships since 1995.

PSU, which is 19-3 the past two years under Castonia, finished first in the NEFC Boyd Division this season with a 7-0 record. The Panthers defeated Maine Maritime, 46-16, in the NEFC Championship game, before losing to Cortland State (N.Y.) in the NCAA playoffs, 31-14.