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 12th.
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 Wide Receivers Coach of the Year award are Bobby Kennedy (Texas, 2008), Zach Azzanni (Central Michigan, 2009), Brent Pease (Boise State, 2010), Ted Gilmore (USC, 2011), Matt Lubick (Duke, 2012), and Lawrence Dawsey (Florida State, 2013)
David Beaty, Texas A&M
Texas A&M ranked seventh in passing offense in 2013 with a former Heisman Trophy winner and future first-round pick at quarterback. Playing with two first-time signal callers in 2014, Texas A&M ranked 12th nationally in passing thanks to one of the deepest receiving corps in college football. Four players nabbed at least 44 receptions, and six players grabbed at least 29 receptions this season. And most impressively, it was an entirely new group this season, as only one player among that half-dozen had more than nine career receptions entering this season. Texas A&M posted 135 receptions of 10 yards or more this fall, placing 14th nationally.
Key Stats
- 12th in passing offense (306.4 yards per game)
- 8th in touchdown receptions (35)
- 4 players with at least 44 receptions
- 6 players with at least 29 receptions
- 14th in receptions of 10-plus yards (135)
Kendal Briles, Baylor
The first job of every coach is acquiring talent, and Briles has a boatload of it. The 10-1 Bears rank sixth nationally in passing thanks to a wide receiver corps that includes Corey Coleman (53 grabs, 928 yards, 10 TDs), K.D. Cannon (47 catches, 800 yards, 6 TDs), Antwan Goodley (42 receptions, 621 yards, 5 TDs), Jay Lee (33 grabs, 539 yards, 6 TDs), among others. Baylor's 252 completions have gone for an average of 14.85 yards, and the club ranks second nationally in completions of 30-plus yards (31) and first in completions of 40-plus yards (22).
Key Stats
- 6th in passing offense (340.2 yards per game)
- 7th in yards per carry as a team (6.10 yards per carry)
- 1st in yards per reception among teams with at least 250 catches (14.85)
- 2nd in receptions of 30-plus yards (31)
- 1st in receptions of 40-plus yards (22)
Donnie Kirkpatrick and Dave Nichol, East Carolina
The Biletnikoff Award committee may have forgotten about Pirates receiver Justin Hardy, but the FootballScoop awards committee hasn't forgotten about his coaches. Hardy ranks sixth nationally with 98 grabs for 1,194 yards with eight touchdowns. East Carolina is the only team with two receivers among the top 30 nationally in catches, as Isaiah Jones nabbed 70 balls for 708 yards and five touchdowns. ECU also has three players with more than 700 receiving yards, as Cam Worthy has hauled in 43 receptions for 846 yards and two touchdowns.
Key Stats
- Only team in FBS with two receivers at 70 receptions or more
- 3 players with at least 700 receiving yards
- Justin Hardy ranks sixth in receptions and receiving yards per game
- 3rd in passing offense (364.6 yards per game)
Rusty Burns and Doug Meacham, TCU
Much has been made (and deservedly so) of the progress quarterback Trevone Boykin has made in TCU's leap from 73rd to eighth in passing offense, but the Horned Frogs' attack asks its wide receivers to make plays in 1-on-1 situations, and that they have. TCU has successfully spread the ball around, with five players catching between 50 and 29 passes. And showcasing their true depth, each of those five players has posted at least one game with 80 receiving yards or more.
Key Stats
- 3rd in yards per reception among teams with at least 260 completions (13.09)
- 5 players with at least 29 catches
- 46 percent of receptions went for at least 20 yards
- 8th in passing offense (315.4 yards per game)
Billy Napier, Alabama
How good a season is Alabama's Amari Cooper enjoying? Barring something completely unforeseen, Cooper is set to become the second wide receiver in the past 22 years to finish in the top three in the Heisman Trophy voting. That's some rarified air. The junior ranks third in catches (103), second in receiving yards (1,573) and touchdowns grabs (14). Cooper posted three 200-yard games, dropping 201 yards on Florida, 224 on Tennessee and 224 in Alabama's come-from-behind win over Auburn. He also posted four multi-touchdown games, including two games with three touchdown grabs. As a unit, Alabama ranks 23rd nationally at 13.84 yards per reception, and fourth among teams with at least 240 completions.
Key Stats
- 4th in yards per catch among teams with 240+ completions (13.84)
- Cooper ranks 3rd in receptions, 2nd in receiving yards and touchdowns
- 9th in receptions of 40-plus yards (14)
- 22nd in passing offense (48th last season)
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