Four Alumni Awarded MU Presidential Coin for Excellence

By Terry Day – Posted on

MANSFIELD, PA— Four Mansfield University Alumni; Ed Gillis ’71, John Quashnoc ’70,  Rod Pursell ’88 and Steve McCloskey ’91 have been awarded the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence by President Fran Hendricks.(L-R) Steve McCloskey '91, John Quashnoc ’70, Ed Gillis ’71, MU President Fran Hendricks '79. The presentation took place at Mansfield’s home football game versus the University of Pennsylvania on September 24. Pursell was not able to attend and will be formally presented with his coin at a later date.

Rod Pursell '93“When the decision was made to cut Mansfield’s NCAA Division II football program during the 2006 season, these four men stepped forward to find a solution that would afford students the opportunity to play football at MU,” President Hendricks said. “Through their untiring actions, they brought football back to Mansfield.”

In 2008, Mansfield became the first, and remains the only, public university admitted into the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL). The league is comprised of eight teams, soon to be nine, and has been existence since World War II. CSFL members include the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, Cornell, Penn, Franklin Pierce, Post, Chestnut Hill and, beginning in 2017, Caldwell.

“As this is the125th anniversary of Mansfield football, it is an honor to recognize these individuals for their role in ensuring student athletes continue to play football at this great institution,” Hendricks said.

Gillis, Quashnoc and Pursell all played for the Mountaineers. McCloskey is MU’s long serving director of Athletic Operations and Information

The coin was developed by Hendricks and designed by MU Senior Graphics Designer Andy Worthington. It is awarded selectively to persons who have distinguished themselves and the University through their accomplishments, using the Mansfield Creed; Character, Scholarship, Culture and Service as a guideline.

The coin bears several symbols representing historical highlights and other aspects of the university that make it distinctive.

For more information on the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence and to see the gallery of honorees, go to president.mansfield.edu/coin-for-excellence