MONTREAL, Jan. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FieldTurf was proud to continue its long-standing partnership with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as an official major sponsor of the 2009 AFCA Convention in Nashville. As a sponsor of the AFCA's general session, the host of a successful FieldTurf/Howie Long Awards party widely attended by coaches form all over the country, and a key presence in the exhibit hall, FieldTurf is pleased to be able to give back to those that dedicate their lives to America's favorite game.

"I would like to thank FieldTurf for their large presence at this year's AFCA Convention," said legendary Texas Tech Head Coach, Mike Leach. "I am proud to have been named as the D1 Coach of the Year by a company that symbolizes excellence in our game. Their awards party was very well attended this year and we at Texas Tech look forward to many more years on our FieldTurf surface. We feel as though we have the best of the best in terms of turf systems."

"We would like to once again thank the AFCA for hosting a great convention and allowing us to take part in a major way," said FieldTurf Tarkett CEO Joe Fields. "Our presence this year did not go unnoticed and we are thrilled that so many coaches across the country have come to realize the high quality and ideal safety features of our FieldTurf system."

In just a little more than a decade, FieldTurf has proven to be one of the great success stories in the annals of football. FieldTurf's nearly 3000 installations are in more than 40 countries worldwide. FieldTurf has revolutionized the turf industry while single-handedly changing the perception of artificial turf by coaches, players, athletic administrators and fans. There have been many imitators and knockoffs, but there is only one FieldTurf.

FieldTurf and Howie Long presented the winners of their Football Awards at the AFCA. Award winners were officially announced by former NFL quarterback and current FieldTurf representative Neil O'Donnell at the FieldTurf Awards party widely attended by the AFCA membership. Award winners were named in 19 different categories and were based on tabulated votes from Howie Long and FieldTurf Tarkett executives, which include a group of former NFL stars.

This year's winners were:

 NFL Coach of the Year - Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans (TN)
 NFL Team of the Year - Tennessee Titans (TN)
 NCAA Division 1-A Coach of the Year - Mike Leach, Texas Tech
  University (TX)
 NCAA Division 1-A Team of the Year - University of Florida (FL)
 NCAA Division 1-AA Coach of the Year - Andy Talley, Villanova
  University (PA)
 NCAA Division 2 Coach of the Year - Chuck Martin, Grand Valley State
  (MI)
 NCAA Division 3 Coach of the Year - Larry Kehres, Mount Union (OH)
 CFL Team of the Year - Calgary Stampeders (AB)
 NAIA Team of the Year - Carroll College (MT)
 Junior College Team of the Year - Snow College (UT)
 National High School Team of the Year - St. Thomas Aquinas High School
  (FL)
 Southwest HS Team of the Year - Cascia Hall (OK)
 Northwest High School Team of the Year - Bellevue HS (WA)
 Midwest High School Team of the Year - Wayzata HS (MN)
 Northeast High School Team of the Year - Longmeadow HS (MA)
 Southeast High School Team of the Year (2) - St. Thomas Aquinas HS
  (FL), Myrtle Beach HS (SC)
 Great Lakes Region High School Team of the Year - St. Ignatius HS (OH)
 Metro High School Team of the Year (2) - Don Bosco Prep HS (NJ),
  Livingston HS (NJ)
 Mid-Atlantic High School Team of the Year - Steelton-Highspire HS (PA)

FieldTurf Tarkett, a Division of the Tarkett Group, is the largest entity in the sports surfacing industry and offers unparalleled leasing capabilities, engineering, manufacturing resources, and environmental standards. In addition to its world-renowned FieldTurf and Prestige brands of artificial turf, FieldTurf Tarkett provides an equally impressive range of sports flooring products that includes synthetic and hardwood basketball, volleyball and gymnasium flooring, squash and racquetball courts, floor protection and covering systems, and weight room flooring. Also in the range of FieldTurf Tarkett products are high performance indoor and outdoor running tracks including the Beynon track surfaces, playground surfacing, commercial and residential landscaping, and a complete range of tennis and golf surfaces. All of FieldTurf Tarkett's surfaces are developed, produced and installed with a concentration on sustainability and a commitment to protecting the environment. The company calls it 'Environmental Intelligence' and lives by this principle in every way. For more information, visit www.fieldturftarkett.com.