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Trimming the Broyles From 36 to 1

By Paul Myerberg   //   Nov 25, 2010

Though more often than not more of a popularity contest than an actual measurement of the nation’s finest assistant coach, the annual Broyles Award does its best work in presenting a list of the understudies most deserving of a moment in the spotlight. Last fall’s winner, Alabama’s Kirby Smart, certainly deserved credit for helping to orchestrate a national title-winning defense; however, one could have made an equally strong case — if not a stronger case — for several other F.B.S. assistants, such as Will Muschamp at Texas or Cincinnati’s Jeff Quinn, among others. In advance of next month’s award ceremony, here are the 36 assistants nominated for the 2010 Broyles Award listed alphabetically by school. From there, I’ll trim this list — using my view on things — to 18, to nine, to five and then down to one.

Here’s the 36-coach list of nominees, as selected by the Broyles Award selection committee — a group led by, not surprisingly, former Arkansas coach and athletic director Frank Broyles, the award’s namesake:

OC Jim McElwain, Alabama
OC/QB Garrick McGee, Arkansas
OC/QB Guz Malzahn, Auburn
DC/DL Pete Kwiatkowski, Boise State
DC Bill McGovern, Boston College
DC Clancy Pendergast, California
DC Deve Huxtable, Central Florida
DC Kevin Steele, Clemson
RB Terry Richardson, Connecticut
DC Geoff Collins, Florida International
DC Kurt Van Valkenburgh, Florida Atlantic
OC/WR Paul Petrino, Illinois
DC Norm Parker, Iowa
OC/QB Randy Sanders, Kentucky
DC Vance Bedford, Louisville
DC John Chavis, L.S.U.
OC Don Treadwell, Michigan State
c0-OC Jeff Horton, Minnesota
DC/LB Dave Steckel, Missouri
OC/QB/WR Dana Bible, N.C. State
DC/DL Carl Pelini, Nebraska
DC/DB Everett Withers, North Carolina
LB/c0-DC Luke Fickell, Ohio State
OC Dana Holgorsen, Oklahoma State
DC Nick Aliotti, Oregon
DC Mark Banker, Oregon State
OC/QB Gary Nord, Purdue
OL Gary Bernadi, San Jose State
RB Jay Grahm, South Carolina
OC Greg Roman, Stanford
DC Scott Shafer, Syracuse
DC/DL Dick Bumpas, T.C.U.
DC Tim DeRuyter, Texas A&M
DC/LB Jeff Casteel, West Virginia
QB Ryan Cubit, Western Michigan
OC/QB Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

Now, cutting the list in half:

OC Jim McElwain, Alabama
OC/QB Garrick McGee, Arkansas
OC/QB Guz Malzahn, Auburn
DC/DL Pete Kwiatkowski, Boise State
DC Geoff Collins, Florida International
OC/WR Paul Petrino, Illinois
DC John Chavis, L.S.U.
OC Don Treadwell, Michigan State
DC/LB Dave Steckel, Missouri
DC/DL Carl Pelini, Nebraska
LB/c0-DC Luke Fickell, Ohio State
OC Dana Holgorsen, Oklahoma State
DC Nick Aliotti, Oregon
OC Greg Roman, Stanford
DC Scott Shafer, Syracuse
DC/DL Dick Bumpas, T.C.U.
DC Tim DeRuyter, Texas A&M
OC/QB Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

Let’s do it again, now taking it down to nine coaches:

OC/QB Guz Malzahn, Auburn
DC/DL Pete Kwiatkowski, Boise State
DC John Chavis, L.S.U.
OC Don Treadwell, Michigan State
OC Dana Holgorsen, Oklahoma State
DC Nick Aliotti, Oregon
DC/DL Dick Bumpas, T.C.U.
DC Tim DeRuyter, Texas A&M
OC/QB Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

The final finalists, in my mind:

OC/QB Guz Malzahn, Auburn
DC/DL Pete Kwiatkowski, Boise State
OC Don Treadwell, Michigan State
OC Dana Holgorsen, Oklahoma State
OC/QB Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

Each assistant is more than deserving. Malzahn has orchestrated one of the nation’s most potent offensive attacks, one piloted by the presumptive Heisman favorite — playing a position Malzahn also coaches. Kwiatkowski has stepped in wonderfully for Justin Wilcox, the former Boise State coordinator who left for Tennessee following the 2009 season.

Treadwell should be commended not just for his job coaching the Michigan State offense, but also for the way he maintained M.S.U.’s Rose Bowl run when stepping for an ill Mark Dantonio during the start of Big Ten play. Holgorsen should receive most of the credit for Oklahoma State’s unexpected rise into the national title hunt, thanks to an offense that has taken quickly to Holgorsen’s passing attack. Finally, Chryst’s offense at Wisconsin has already set a new school record for points in a season — with two games left to play.

Each has the resume deserving of this national award; however, in my opinion, the winner should be Dana Holgorsen. The picture accompanying this post should have given it away from the start — next time, a little misdirection should be in order. I’m no expert, but I thought very little of Oklahoma State heading into the year: I was concerned — as always — with the defense, and while full of respect for Holgorsen’s ability as a coordinator did not believe the offense would excel in his first season.

Wrong. The Cowboys have been nothing short of outstanding all season; even in its one loss, O.S.U. scored 41 points. Only once all season did the Cowboys score less than 33 points, in fact, and that was during Justin Blackmon’s one-game suspension. To me, while Malzahn and Chryst make strong cases, the award should go to Holgorsen.

Tags: Broyles Award, Dana Holgorsen, Don Treadwell, Gus Malzahn, Paul Chryst, Pete Kwiatkowski

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