MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – As the 2019 College Football season approaches, as well as the 150^th Anniversary of College Football, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) recognized 150 contributors for bringing and establishing a tradition of excellence in the sport of Football in the conference.
 
St. Thomas University President and Mercyhurst University alumni '86, David A. Armstrong, J.D., was recognized as a member of the 150 contributors to football in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
 
President Armstrong played at Mercyhurst from 1982-1986 and was inducted into the Mercyhurst Football Hall of Fame in 1991, a charter member of the Mercyhurst Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 and was recognized as Alumni of the Year in a Chosen Field in 2015. Throughout his playing career, President Armstrong was a three year starter as a right guard for the nationally ranked Lakers, he earned 1985 All-District and was named a GTE Academic All-American. Academically, Armstrong was an Honor Student, a Rhodes Scholar candidate, President of Student Government and received the Carpe Diem Award for the most outstanding graduating senior.
 
President Armstrong followed his dream to become a lawyer by attending Cleveland- Marshall College of Law. While in law school and serving as the Assistant to the Prosecutor in Lakewood, Ohio, he coached three years of high school football and played semi-professional football for the Cleveland Falcons in 1988. After graduating law school and passing the Ohio Bar Exam, Armstrong returned to his alma mater to serve as an Assistant Football Coach for seven seasons at Mercyhurst including four years as Offensive Coordinator. During that he span he held multiple administrative roles in academics and fundraising.
 
President Armstrong became the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Thiel College from 1996-2000 where he revived a dormant football program and achieved the most successful athletic championship year in school history. After his tenure at Thiel College and Holy Name HS as Athletic Director, Armstrong teamed with then Assistant Coach Bill Rychel and established a Football program at Notre Dame College, while representing the school as Vice President and General Counsel. Armstrong was instrumental in growing the Athletic Department from eight varsity teams to twenty-four teams in ten years and starting the eight- time National Champion Notre Dame College Wrestling program.
 
Armstrong then assumed the role as President at Thomas More University in 2013 where he expanded Saints Athletics from sixteen to twenty- four teams while winning two National Championships in Women's Basketball. He served in that position until being named the 10^th President of St. Thomas University starting on August 1st, 2018.
 
During his tenure at Notre Dame College and Thomas More University, both institutions realized record enrollment, record fundraising and physical plant growth.
 
In his first year as President of St. Thomas University, President Armstrong brought Football to St. Thomas for the first time in school history, making the announcement on August 29th, 2018. Armstrong then reunited with Coach Rychel to establish another collegiate football program, this time in Miami Gardens, Florida.
 
Under the direction of President Armstrong and Head Coach Rychel, St. Thomas University looks forward to the Inaugural Football season, as College Football celebrates its 150^th year, beginning on September 7th, 2019 at Monsignor Pace High School as the Bobcats play Thomas More University at 12 p.m

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