The award handed out annually to the nation’s top assistant coach has a decidedly Big Ten lean to it this year -- even as the eventual winner will probably come from a conference further south.
Tuesday afternoon, the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced the 15 semifinalists for the 2019 Broyles Award. A full one-third of those semifinalists come from the Big Ten -- Indiana offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kalen DeBoer; Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown; Minnesota offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kirk Ciarrocca; Ohio State co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Jeff Hafley; and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
The SEC was next with three -- Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele; Georgia defensive coordinator/outside linebacker coach Dan Lanning; and LSU passing-game coordinator/wide receivers coach (and likely favorite) Joe Brady.
The AAC, Big 12 and Pac-12 had two semifinalists each, while the ACC had one.
Last year’s winner was Alabama’s Mike Locksley.
The 2019 Broyles Award semi-finalist are… pic.twitter.com/mOEIpvWxFn
— BROYLES AWARD (@BroylesAward) November 26, 2019