FootballScoop has proudly announced finalists for the 2017 FootballScoop Coach of the Year awards for defense and special teams.
Now in its 10th year, the FootballScoop Coach of the Year awards program presented by AstroTurf are the only coaching awards chosen entirely by their peers. Coaches must be nominated by a fellow coach to be eligible for an award and winners are chosen by the prior winners of each award.
The FootballScoop Coach of the Year awards program honors a total of 17 coaches, recognizing outstanding work done by FBS coordinators and position coaches, divisional coordinators and essential FBS support staff. Finalists for defense and special teams, divisional coordinators and essential FBS support staff will be announced in later releases.
Winners will be revealed throughout the month and will receive their awards at the AFCA Convention in Charlotte in January.
Defensive Coordinator
Don Brown, Michigan
Manny Diaz, Miami
Alex Grinch, Washington State
Nick Holt/Anthony Poindexter, Purdue
Pete Kwiatkowski, Washington
Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin
Kevin Steele, Auburn
Defensive Line Coach
Inoke Breckterfield, Wisconsin
Brett Diersen, Northern Illinois
Zarnell Fitch/Dan Sharp, TCU
Rodney Garner, Auburn
Larry Johnson, Ohio State
Ikaika Malloe, Washington
Linebackers Coach
Bob Gregory, Washington
Scottie Hazelton, Wyoming
Shane Hunter/Kelly Poppinga, Virginia
Todd Orlando, Texas
Glenn Schumann/Kevin Sherrer, Georgia
Tyson Veidt, Iowa State
Defensive Backs Coach
Derrick Ansley, Alabama
Anthony Campanile, Boston College
Archie Collins, Central Michigan
Chad Glasgow/Paul Gonzales, TCU
Brian Smith/Michael Zordich, Michigan
Special Teams Coordinator
Joe Lorig, Memphis
Joe Pannunzio, Alabama
Chris Partridge/Jay Harbaugh, Michigan
James Shibest, Virginia Tech
As mentioned above, this year's winners will be chosen by prior winners.
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