RELEASED: Nov. 1, 2001

DANVILLE, KY—One way or another David Cress was going to find a way to help his teammates.

The 41-year-old graduate student recently became a part-time assistant coach with the Centre football team. This comes after Cress decided to no longer carry on his fight against the NCAA to regain a final season of eligibility he was awarded last season. The NCAA, Centre and all parties agreed to the order of dismissal.

The NCAA originally granted Cress two years of eligibility, and he played for the Colonels in 2000. But his second year of eligibility was unexpectedly revoked by the NCAA in January.

Cress says he welcomes the role as assistant coach because it allows him an opportunity to interact with his former teammates and offer guidance and leadership, while avoiding sanctions from the NCAA.

Centre administration and the Centre athletics department had previously told Cress that they would welcome him as a part-time assistant coach if the NCAA did not grant him eligibility.

Cress graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, a Division I-AA school, in 1996 with a degree in occupational therapy, and he enrolled at Centre, a Division III school, in the spring of 2000. Cress then decided he wanted to play football again. He had played football for Centre in the early 1980s. Cress was an all-conference linebacker for the Colonels in 1980, the first Centre team coached by Joe McDaniel, now the school's director of athletics.

He saw action on the gridiron during the 2000 season, and drew interest nationwide. Several media outlets featured Cress, including USA Today.

Cress is enrolled as a part-time student at Centre and is working toward medical school after compiling a 4.0 grade-point average last school year.

Cress and 17 seniors of the Centre football team will be recognized during Centre's final game this season as Rose-Hulman visits the Colonels Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

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