EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) announced Vic Fangio '80 as this year's Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman Award winner, a lifetime achievement award given to an assistant coach in the NFL.
 
Fangio, an ESU graduate in the class of 1980, worked his way up to the NFL after coaching at the high school level, the University of North Carolina, and the USFL with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars. Since getting his start with the New Orleans Saints as their linebackers coach in 1896, he has spent time with 10 other NFL teams, as well as briefly returning to the collegiate ranks to be Stanford University's defensive coordinator in 2010. As a defensive coach, he's helped five players go on to have Hall of Fame careers, coached in two Super Bowls, and captured his first championship with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
 
During his studies at ESU, Fangio enrolled in courses taught by former football head coach Denny Douds and was involved with the team on the sidelines. Fangio played a part in the Warriors' stretch of four PSAC East titles in six years from 1975-1980. He's one of two ESU alumni, alongside Pat Flaherty '78, with the New York Giants in 2007 and 2011, who have won the Super Bowl as a coach
 
The Dr. Z Award is named after Paul Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated's lead writer covering professional football for 29 years.