Coach Glenn Caruso was named the national Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year for the third consecutive time today in Miami, which is the first time in the seven-year history of the elite award program.

Caruso will be honored in the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year display at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

“The simple fact that we have won this award several times is a testament to our coaches’ and players’ commitment to the Twin Cities community as well as the university’s moral responsibility to develop leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good,” Caruso said.

St. Thomas’ Sports Information Director Gene McGivern said the announcement is very exciting for the university.

“I think its certainly a unique award. It’s a good reflection of (Caruso). He’s just such a hard worker, and he has such a vision beyond just the football field and so it’s a great award that recognizes a lot of his values,” McGivern said.

McGivern also mentioned about how this award reflects the balance in Caruso’s life.

“He is someone who really represents the school well and not just on Saturdays in football season, but he represents us year round,” McGivern said. “There’s a lot of takers out in the world, but it’s a lot easier to be a taker than a giver. I think he’s a guy that’s a giver and he’s always looking for ways to be positive and to be a contributor.”

Caruso decided to put the $50,000 Liberty Mutual charitable donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Bucky’s Pride, Habitat for Humanity-Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota Cancer Research.

Liberty Mutual also will make another $20,000 scholarship donation to the St. Thomas Alumni Association in Caruso’s name as part of the award.

The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award “recognizes college football coaches who demonstrate Sportsmanship, Integrity, Responsibility and Excellence both on and off the field,” according to coachoftheyear.com website.

But McGivern said it’s not the money or fame that drives Caruso to succeed.

“I’m sure he’d be the first to tell you … his bigger project is just trying to be the best coach he can be,” McGivern said.

Fan votes contributed 20 percent to each coach’s final score, and the media and College Football Hall of Fame ballots accounted for 25 percent and 55 percent, respectively.

In January 2011, at age 36, Caruso became the youngest recipient of the award. In January 2012, he became the first multiple winner, the release read.

“We’re certainly proud of (Caruso) and an award like this, it’s a great reflection on the entire university,” McGivern said.

The finalists for Division III included: Concordia-Chicago’s Lonnie Pries, Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Pat Cerroni, Coe’s Steve Staker and Lake Forest’s Jim Catanzaro.

St. Thomas National Coach of the Year Recipients:

1956: Frank Deig, Football (National Small College Coach of the Year)

1991: Ted Riverso, Women’s Basketball

1992: Dave Orren, Volleyball (AVCA)

1995: Joe Sweeney, Women’s Track and Field (USTFCCCA)

2001: Dennis Denning, Baseball (ABCA)

2004: John Tschida, Softball (NFCA)

2005: John Tschida, Softball (NFCA)

2005: Terry Skrypek, Men’s Hockey (ACHA)

2009: Dennis Denning, Baseball (ABCA)

2010: Glenn Caruso, Football (Liberty Mutual)

2011: Steve Fritz, Men’s Basketball (NABC)

2011: Glenn Caruso, Football (Liberty Mutual & AFM)

2012: Glenn Caruso, Football (Liberty Mutual)

Hannah Anderson and Briggs LeSavage contributed to this report.