WAYNESBURG, Pa. (July 7) – The Waynesburg University community is deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of Waynesburg University graduate assistant in athletics, Mike Czerwien. Czerwien passed away July 6, 2010, as a result of an incident he suffered during part-time employment for a local construction contractor.
A Pittsburgh native from North Hills Senior High School, Czerwien graduated from Waynesburg University in 2008 with a degree in business management. He was currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the university while coaching the defensive end unit for the university’s football program. He was an accomplished football player who started all four years at Waynesburg, and was a four-time, first-team all-PAC (President’s Athletic Conference) pick. As a 5’8”, 225 pound defensive end, he garnered All-America accolades in 2007, and as of 2009 was the NCAA (all divisions) leader in career sacks with 53.5.
Below is a short list of Czerwien’s many accomplishments on the field:
-273 career total tackles
-53.5 career sacks (NCAA All-Division Record)
-23 Sacks as a senior in 2007 (Fourth for all divisions in a season)
-86.5 career tackles for loss (Fifth in all divisions)
-Four-year starter
-Four-year first-team All-PAC honoree
-2007 D3football.com All-American selection
-2007 second-team AP Little All-American honoree
-2007 AFCA All-American honors
-2007 D3football.com All-Region selection
-Selected to the AFCA Division III All-Star team for 2007 Aztec Bowl game
-2007 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Player of the Year
-2006-07 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-American Honorable Mention honors
-2006 D3football.com All-Region accolades
-Three-time ECAC All-Star (2007, 2006, 2005)
-Two-time Don Hansen All-Region recipient (2006,2005)
-2004 Waynesburg Newcomer of the Year Award winner
-Three-time PAC Defensive Player of the Week
“Mike was one of those individuals who only comes around about every 10 years in a coach’s life,” said Waynesburg University Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Richard Shepas. “He was very loyal to his family, and he loved and appreciated them very much. Mike always showed appreciation for any opportunity he was given, and that showed through his amazing work ethic and attitude. He was a great worker and leader. What I really loved about Mike was how grateful he was and how he brought that into his work ethic. I am grateful to have coached him for three years and honored to have had him coaching alongside me.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family and friends at this time. On behalf of Waynesburg University, we would like to express our deepest sympathies.