DEERFIELD, IL - A new era of Trinity football has begun as first year Head Coach Kirk Wherritt records his first win at Trinity International University.

This is Coach Wherritt's first head coaching job after serving as an assistant coach for the past 2 years. Coach Wherritt took over the Trojan football program in December of 2009 and has worked to incorporate a culture of excellence both on and off the field. He started this venture by establishing 3 program goals. Goal #1 is to Create Disciples of Jesus Christ. Goal #2 is to Graduate Every Player in the Program. And goal #3 is to Win the Mid-States Football Conference.

Trinity's athletic department's mission statement reads, "TIU athletics exists to glorify God though Christ Jesus by pursuing wholehearted excellence academically, athletically, relationally and spiritually through inter-collegiate athletics." As coaches recruited for the football program this year, they were directed to look deeper for young men who were a "Good Trinity Fit". Coaches informed potential recruits of the 3 program goals and that this is who we will be about. Coaches looked for high character players that had demonstrated solid academic success in the classroom.

Several off the field changes are also taking place. Every player in the football program will be prayed with and prayed for by the Trojan football staff. Small group Bible studies will be implemented. Players will have opportunities to serve on campus and off campus. This past spring several of the players and coaches served in south Chicago with Roseland Ministries. This involved working on rundown houses to assist in re-furbishing them for low income individuals.

In order to attain academic excellence, athletes will continue to be pushed to attend every class session, sit in the front row and to be engaged in the classroom discussions. Every incoming player will attend 2 nights a week of study table with tutors present to assist in helping the players achieve academic success. Returning players are put into groups for helping them continue their academic endeavors. Last spring, the Trojan football program had the highest GPA increase of any sport at TIU from the fall semester to the spring semester.

The start of the 2010 football season started with a win on the field, but it actually started well before that with a push by the coaching staff to create a new culture for the football program. These changes have been met with great success so far this year. Everyone from the president of the university, professors in the classroom, and other leaders on the TIU campus have communicated verbally and through email about the noticeable change in the Trojan football players.

This is a new Trojan football team in more ways than just new players. There is a new attitude and new belief in the program goals. The Trojans are off to a great start!