Assumption’s Tracy named 2017 Fred Mitchell Award winner

Cole Tracy is the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award winner.

Assumption College’s senior place-kicker Cole Tracy (Camarillo, CA) is the recipient of the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award. The Award is provided to the nation’s top place-kicker in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community. Over 750 place-kickers are eligible.

The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the All-American place-kicker from Wittenberg University and 41-year sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune. “Cole Tracy capped off a remarkable career with one of the most auspicious seasons in NCAA history by kicking 27 field goals in 29 attempts (93 percent), converting 67 of 67 extra points and scoring a record 148 points to help Assumption College reach the Division II quarterfinals with an 11-2 record. Combined with his ongoing dedication to community service, Tracy is an exemplary representative for our 2017 award,” said Fred Mitchell.

Cole Tracy remarked “Being one of the Fred Mitchell Award Finalists in 2015 was something that really motivated me to work harder and have more success with our team.” Tracy continued “Winning this award is truly such an honor, and hearing it directly from Mr. Mitchell is something I will never forget.” Cole Tracy also acknowledged his long-snapper Bryce Jacob and holder Brendan Tobey, and his coach Bob Chesney and the hard work all of the Greyhounds put in during the off-season and through tough practices he described as “harder than the games.”

Off the field, Cole Tracy is Vice President of Assumption’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was instrumental in helping the SAAC organize a canned food drive, which delivered a van full of food to the Worcester County Food Bank, helping WCFB maintain its position as the region’s leading anti-hunger organization. Cole has also made multiple visits to the UMASS Memorial Children’s hospital to visit with patients and to provide inspiration during daunting times.

The award’s Selection Committee Chairman Rob Perry beamed that “We are blessed that we continue to attract and have the opportunity to celebrate quality young men and their efforts. The energy that they put into their team and community makes them leaders of tomorrow. Cole fits right in with all of the previous winners.”

Tracy connected on 27-of-29 field goals, and 67-of-67 extra points, in 2017.

Cole Tracy By The Numbers

Tracy currently ranks first in the nation among Division II kickers in scoring with and ranks third nationally among all players with 148 points.
Tracy’s 68 career field goals are first among all active players and are second in NCAA Division II history, despite just three years of kicking.
He leads the nation in field goal percentage at (.931) and field goals per game (2.1), with his only misses coming from 45 & 52 yards.
His 27 field goals this season is tied for second most in a single season in NCAA Division II history.
Tracy has scored at least 108 points in each of his first three seasons at Assumption, with 117 in 2015, 108 in 2016 and then 148 in 2017. His 373 total points is school and conference record for a kicker.
He scored a season-high 20 points against Stonehill with four field goals and eight extra points earlier this year. The 20 points is tied for the second-most ever in an NCAA Division II game, trailing only Tracy’s record of 21 set last year against Saint Anselm. Tracy connected on a school-record 53-yard attempt while also making field goals of 49 and 48 yards in the contest.
Tracy is 8-for-10 this year on field goals of 42 yards or longer.
Tracy’s 148 points this season is the second-most ever in a single season in NCAA Division II, trailing just the record of 151 set by Simon Mathieson of Northwest Missouri State over 15 games in 2015.
Tracy’s 27 field goals is tied for the most in the nation, including FBS, FCS, DII and DIII
His 11.4 points per game and 148 are at least 14 more than any other kicker in the nation, regardless of division
The 11.4 points per game is a record for a kicker in Division II, breaking the previous record of 10.6 set back in 2005 by Jeff Glas of North Dakota.
Tracy also owns the record for most points scored by kicking in a single game, scoring 21 in a victory over Saint Anselm in 2016. Made six field goals and three extra points for the record.
Only player in NCAA Division II history with multiple six field goal games – recording two. His first came in 2015 and his second in 2016. The six field goals also ties the NCAA Division II record for field goals in a single game.