September 3, 2003

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . Simpson College sports information director Matt Turk finished third in the nation in the coach/administrator category of the Fred W. Stabley Writing Contest sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Turk’s piece on Simpson soccer coach Aziz Haffar, entitled “The Busiest Coach in Central Iowa,” was also voted Best in the District.

Turk’s story on Haffar focused on the coach’s involvement as head men’s and women’s soccer coach at Simpson as well as head men’s coach at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. In 18 high school and college seasons, Haffar has a 405-127-36 record (.714 winning pct.). He ranks 22nd among NCAA Division III women’s coaches with a .659 winning percentage in seven seasons and ranks 40th among Division III men’s coaches with a .664 winning percentage in eight seasons.

CoSIDA annually sponsors the Fred W. Stabley Writing Contest to recognize members of the organization. The contest is divided into six categories – athlete profile, coach/administrator profile, event coverage, general feature, historical feature and opinion/editorial. The stories are judged by category at the district level with the top story in each category from each district moving onto the national contest.

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