PELLA — Central College defensive coordinator Don De Waard will serve as the head coach of Team Stars and Stripes for the fourth straight year in the seventh annual Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) football game in Baja, Mexico Saturday, Dec. 19.

The Tazon de Estrellas is an international game hosted by Global Football. The event, and its predecessor, the Aztec Bowl, have a combined 18-year history. De Waard earlier served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team in the Aztec Bowl.

Team Stars and Stripes is a 50-player squad of NCAA Division III seniors who have been nominated by head coaches. The team will face a team all-stars chosen from a national conference of Mexican private colleges.

De Waard has been on the Dutch coaching staff for 34 years and graduated from Central in 1982. He was named the Division III Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000 by the American Football Coaches Association. De Waard holds a 2-1 record as the head coach for Team Stars and Stripes, guiding the team to a 32-15 win in 2012 and a 29-7 win in 2013. He suffered a 31-17 defeat last season.

Central athletic training education program director John Roslien will join De Waard in Mexico as the Player Personnel Director for Team Stars and Stripes. He’s been involved with the game for 18 years. Roslien joined the Central staff in 1986 and has held his current title since 2003. He is also a member of the Iowa Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Honor.

Central head athletic trainer Frank Neu will be making the trip to Mexico as well, serving as the head athletic trainer for Team Stars and Stripes. This is the 15th time he has been a part of the game.

Story provided by Alex Cooper