UW-Oshkosh Ranked Third In Football Programs That Inspire List

College Athletic Advisor ranked UW-Oshkosh's NCAA Division III football program third in its Programs That Inspire list for 2020.

UW-Oshkosh was recognized from a group of over 500 NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA football programs.

Rankings for the "Programs That Inspire" list were based on a subjective assessment of student experience in holistic development of student-athletes in the institution; academic achievement and support for the academic success of student-athletes; overall college experience for participants within the program; and affordability, graduation rates and student satisfaction.

Division III Saint John's University (Minn.) led the listing while Division II University of Central Missouri ranked second. UW-Oshkosh was followed by a pair of Division II schools as Texas A&M University-Commerce ranked fourth and University of West Florida fifth. UW-Whitewater, which shared last year's WIAC championship with UW-Oshkosh, ranked ninth.

UW-Oshkosh compiled an 8-3 record (6-1 WIAC) last fall. The Titans clinched a share of their 11th conference title and secured the league's automatic berth into the Division III Championship by defeating UW-Whitewater, 27-20, in the regular season finale in Oshkosh. UW-Oshkosh's fifth NCAA postseason appearance in the past eight seasons ended with a 38-37 overtime loss at Central College (Iowa) during the first round.

Pat Cerroni is in his 14th year as UW-Oshkosh's head football coach after leading the Titans to each of their five NCAA Division III postseason appearances, including trips to the national championship game in 2016, to the semifinals in both 2012 and 2017, and to the quarterfinal round in 2015.

Cerroni, the 23rd head coach in UW-Oshkosh's 124-year history, has guided the Titans to a 103-42 record (.710 winning percentage), including marks of 13-1 in 2012, 12-1 in 2017, 11-2 in 2015 and 13-2 in 2016. He became the program's winningest coach with his 69th victory on Oct. 15, 2016, at UW-Stevens Point.

Cerroni and his UW-Oshkosh football team have performed several community services projects through the years, including events associated with the Oshkosh Boys & Girls Club, Oshkosh YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, Old Glory Honor Flight, Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Feeding America. In 2015, Cerroni received the Excellence In Leadership Award for his work with Be The Match®, a National Marrow Donor Program in which six of his players have donated to.

"This recognition represents everything we believe in as football program," said Cerroni. "I'm extremely proud of what we've accomplished and how are student-athletes have responded to the challenge of being great in the classroom, on the football field and in the community."

2020 College Athletic Advisor "Programs That Inspire" - Football