After leading the Laker football program to a third consecutive undefeated regular season, Chuck Martin has been named the NCAA Division II AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year for 2007. Martin will be accepting the award on Wednesday, January 9 at the 2008 AFCA Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

"I am very proud to receive this award from the AFCA," Martin said. "It's an honor that wouldn't be possible without all of the hard work the assistant coaches and student-athletes put into the football program at Grand Valley."

Martin earned the AFCA Division II Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and 2006 after winning back-to-back national championships. In 2007, Martin directed the Lakers to a 12-1 overall record. GVSU advanced to the NCAA DII national semifinal for the third consecutive season while also claiming a third consecutive GLIAC championship along the way. The 2007 season also saw Grand Valley's winning streak make NCAA Division II history by defeating Northwood on Oct. 20. The win at Northwood extended the streak to 35 games, passing the previous mark of 34 games held by Hillsdale College (1954-57). The NCAA Division II all-time longest win streak would extend to 40 consecutive games before ending in the national semifinal on Dec. 8.

Grand Valley's football coaches are currently in the middle of the recruiting season and will be holding a press conference on signing day (Feb. 6) to announce the student-athletes who will be joining the program for the 2008 season.