De Waard to pilot American squad against Mexico

Central College

PELLA — The former defensive coordinator for the Central College football team, Don De Waard will once again serve as the head coach of Team Stars and Stripes in the eighth annual Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) in Mexicali, Mexico Saturday, December 17.

The Tazon de Estrellas is an international game hosted by Global Football. The event, and its predecessor, the Aztec Bowl, have a combined 19-year history. De Waard earlier served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team in the Aztec Bowl.

Team Stars and Stripes is a 50-player squad of NCAA Division III seniors who have been nominated by head coaches. The team will face a team of all-stars chosen from a national conference of Mexican private colleges.

De Waard maintains a 3-1 record as Team Stars and Stripes head coach after last year’s 15-14 victory. He called for a 2-point conversion on the final possession of the game to give the Americans the victory. He also guided the team to wins in 2012 and 2013.

After serving on the Dutch coaching staff for 34 years, the 1982 Central graduate stepped down following the 2015 campaign.

Central athletic training education program director John Roslien will join De Waard in Mexico as the Player Personnel Director for Team Stars and Stripes. He’s been involved with the game for 19 years. Roslien joined the Central staff in 1986 and has held his current title since 2003. He is also a member of the Iowa Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Honor.