Broyles Foundation Announces 2023 Nominees For Top Assistant Coach

November 14, 2023 by Frank Broyles Award Press Realese

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 14, 2023) – The Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2023 Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coaches.

The 57 nominees in this year’s class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches.

The nominees are:

AIR FORCE – Brian Knorr, Defensive Coordinator
ALABAMA – Tommy Rees, Offensive Coordinator/QB
APPALACHIAN STATE – Frank Ponce, Offensive Coordinator/QB
ARIZONA – Johnny Nansen, Defensive Coordinator
ARIZONA STATE – Brian Ward, Defensive Coordinator
ARKANSAS – Travis Williams, Defensive Coordinator/LB
BOSTON COLLEGE – Matt Applebaum, Offensive Line
BYU – Jernaro Gilford, Cornerbacks
CINCINNATI – Bryan Brown, Assoc. Head Coach/ DC
CLEMSON – Wes Goodwin, Defensive Coordinator/LB
COLORADO STATE – James Finley, Tight Ends
DUKE – Tyler Santucci, Defensive Coordinator/LB
FLORIDA STATE – Adam Fuller, Defensive Coordinator
GEORGIA – Mike Bobo, Offensive Coordinator/QB
GEORGIA SOUTHERN – Bryan Ellis, Offensive Coordinator/QB
GEORGIA TECH – Buster Faulkner, Offensive Coordinator/TE
IOWA - Phil Parker, Defensive Coordinator/Sec.
IOWA STATE–Jon Heacock, Defensive Coordinator
JAMES MADISON – Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/LB
KANSAS – Jim Zebrowski, Quarterbacks
KANSAS STATE – Joe Klanderman, Defensive Coordinator/S
LOUISVILLE – Ron English, Defensive Coordinator
LSU – Mike Denbrock, Offensive Coordinator/TE
MEMPHIS – Tim Cramsey, Offensive Coordinator
MIAMI – Lance Guidry, Defensive Coordinator
MICHIGAN – Sherrone Moore, Offensive Coordinator/OL
MISSOURI – Kirby Moore, Offensive Coordinator
NC STATE – Tony Gibson, Defensive Coordinator/LB
NEBRASKA – Tony White, Assoc. Head Coach/DC
NORTH CAROLINA – Chip Lindsey, Offensive Coordinator/QB
NORTH TEXAS – Drew Svoboda, Special Teams
NOTRE DAME – Al Golden, Defensive Coordinator/LB
OHIO – Spence Nowinsky, Defensive Coordinator/DE
OHIO STATE – Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator/LB
OKLAHOMA – Jeff Lebby, Offensive Coordinator/QB
OLE MISS – Pete Golding, Defensive Coordinator/LB
OREGON – Will Stein, Offensive Coordinator
OREGON STATE – Jim Michalczik, Assoc. Head Coach/Run Game/OL
PENN STATE – Manny Diaz, Defensive Coordinator/LB
RICE – Marques Tuiasosopo, Offensive Coordinator/QB
RUTGERS – Joe Harasymiak, Defensive Coordinator
SAN JOSE STATE – Josh Oglesby, Offensive Line/RG
SMU – Scott Symons, Defensive Coordinator
TENNESSEE – Tim Banks, Defensive Coordinator
TEXAS – Pete Kwiatkowski, Defensive Coordinator/OLB
TEXAS STATE –Mack Leftwich, Offensive Coordinator
TEXAS TECH – Kenny Perry, Assoc. Head Coach/Special Teams/RB
TOLEDO – Mike Hallett, Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL
TULANE – Shiel Wood, Defensive Coordinator/LB
UAB – Alex Mortensen, Offensive Coordinator
UCLA – D’Anton Lynn, Defensive Coordinator
UNLV – Brennan Marion, Offensive Coordinator
UTAH – Morgan Scalley, Defensive Coordinator/S
UTAH STATE – Kyle Cefalo, Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR
UTSA – Jess Loepp, Defensive Coordinator/S
WASHINGTON – Ryan Grubb, Offensive Coordinator
WEST VIRGINIA – Matt Moore, Offensive Line

A selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists, five finalists from the list of nominees, and an overall winner.

The 2022 Broyles Award winner was Garrett Riley, who was the offensive coordinator at TCU. Riley is now the offensive coordinator at Clemson University. Previous winners are not eligible to be nominated for the Broyles Award until the completion of three seasons.

The Broyles Award is presented by Oaklawn, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Proceeds from the 2023 Broyles Award support the Broyles Foundation’s mission to provide a game plan for Alzheimer’s caregivers through education, support, and resources. The Broyles Foundation can be followed on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Previous Winners

2022 - Garret Riley, TCU
2021 - Josh Gattis, Michigan
2020 - Steve Sarkisian, Alabama
2019 - Joe Brady, LSU, Passing Game Coordinator/WR Coach
2018 - Mike Locksley, Alabama, OC
2017 - Tony Elliott, Clemson, OC
2016 - Brent Venables, Clemson, DC
2015 - Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma, OC
2014 - Tom Herrman, Ohio State, OC
2013 - Pat Narduzzi, Michigan State, DC
2012 - Bob Diaco, Notre Dame, DC
2011 - John Chavis, LSU, DC
2010 - Gus Malzahn, Auburn, OC
2009 - Kirby Smart, Alabama, DC
2008 - Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma, OC
2007 - Jim Heacock, Ohio State, DC
2006 - Bud Foster, Virginia Tech, DC
2005 - Greg Davis, Texas, OC
2004 - Gene Chizik, Auburn, DC
2003 - Brian VanGorder, Georgia, DC
2002 - Norm Chow, USC, OC
2001 - Randy Shannon, Miami, DC
2000 - Mark Mangino, Oklahoma, OC
1999 - Ralph Friedgen, Georgia Tech, OC
1998 - David Cutcliffe, Tennessee, OC
1997 - Jim Herrmann, Michigan, DC
1996 - Mickey Andrews, Florida State, DC

About the Broyles Award
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles’ legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas. You can follow the Broyles Award on Facebook, X and Instagram.

About the National College Football Awards Association
The Broyles Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

About the Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-American team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

About Oaklawn
Located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, Oaklawn is one of the premiere Thoroughbred racetracks in the country since 1904, best known as home of the Arkansas Derby. Oaklawn holds live racing from Dec 8, 2023 to May 4, 2024 and simulcast racing throughout the year.