The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards, presented by ProGrass, are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. Finalists were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors and other athletic department personnel. The winner will be chosen by the previous winners of this award and will be announced on Friday December 19th.
The 2014 FootballScoop Coaches of the Year will be recognized and will receive their awards at an event held in their honor at the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention in January in Louisville, KY.
Previous winners of the Defensive Backs Coach of the Year award are Tim Billings (Wake Forest, 2008), Everett Withers and Troy Douglas (North Carolina, 2009), Chad Glasgow and Clay Jennings (TCU, 2010), Ron Cooper (LSU, 2011), Bill Busch and Kendrick Shaver (Utah State, 2012), and Jeremy Pruitt (Florida State, 2013)
Greg Brown and Terrell Buckley, Louisville
Throwing against Louisville's defense was truly a dangerous proposition in 2014. The Cardinals led the nation in interceptions with 25, and nearly created a two-to-one interception-to-touchdown ratio by allowing only 13 scoring strikes. With two more interceptions in their upcoming bowl game, Louisville will tie N.C. State's 2011 defense for the most interceptions since the FootballScoop awards program began. Louisville also ranks seventh in pass efficiency defense and inside the top 20 in opposing completion percentage and yard per attempt allowed. Safety Gerod Holliman leads the nation - by far - with 14 interceptions.
Key Stats
- Gerrod Holliman leads the nation with 14 interceptions
- 1st in interceptions (25)
- 7th in pass efficiency defense (103.91)
- 8th in passes defended (71)
Vance Bedford and Chris Vaughn, Texas
Big 12 offenses averaged nearly 37 passes per game in 2014, and gained one fewer yard per attempt against Texas than the next best pass defenses in the league. After rating 57th a year ago, the Longhorns ranked fifth nationally at 5.6 yards per attempt allowed, and the next closest Big 12 clubs were Kansas State and West Virginia at 6.5 per attempt (30th nationally). Texas allowed only 11 touchdown passes (fewest among all teams that defended at least 390 passes) and ranked 16th nationally with 15 interceptions. In one of the best single-game performances of the season, the Longhorns held Bryce Petty, a top 15 performer in passer rating, to just 7-of-22 passing for 111 yards, the worst completion percentage, yards per attempt and rating of his career.
Key Stats
- 5th in yards per attempt allowed (5.6)
- 11 touchdown passes allowed (fewest among all teams with at least 390 passes defended)
- 13th in passing defense (186.3 yards per game)
- 17th in pass efficiency defense (108.34)
Kirk Callahan, Central Florida
Sometimes the numbers simply speak for themselves. Central Florida leads the nation in pass efficiency defense, yards per attempt allowed and percentage of 10-plus yard completions. In raw numbers, UCF (60) trails only San Jose State (52) in completions of 10-plus yards allowed, while the San Jose State defended the fewest passes in college football this season and UCF defended the 47th fewest. The Knights rank sixth in overall pass defense, and first among teams that defended at least 360 passes this fall. Callahan's group also ranked sixth in passes defended at 6.18 per game. Finally, Callahan helped cornerback Jacoby Glenn earn American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the year accolades.
Key Stats
- 1st in pass efficiency defense (96.47)
- 1st in yards per attempt allowed (5.0)
- 1st in percentage of 10-plus yard completions allowed (13.7 percent)
- 1st in pass yards allowed among teams defending more than 30 attempts per game (166.2 yards per game)
Dave Wommack and Jason Jones, Ole Miss
Only one team in college football ranks among the top four nationally in touchdown passes allowed and interceptions - and it's Ole Miss. The Rebels started this season 7-0 thanks to a scorching-hot pass defense that posted 15 interceptions, three pick sixes and only three touchdowns allowed. For the year, Ole Miss ranks 14th in pass efficiency defense and 19th in yards per attempt allowed. All-America candidate Senquez Golson leads the group by placing second nationally in interceptions and fifth in passes defended.
Key Stats
- 4th in interceptions (14)
- 2nd in touchdown passes allowed (8)
- 14th in pass efficiency defense (106.98)
- Senquez Golson ranks 2nd in interceptions (9) and 5th in passes defended (17)
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