FootballScoop is proud to announce that Tom Manning is the 2015 FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year presented by ProGrass.
Toledo had a very good offensive line in 2014. The Rockets ranked 13th nationally in rushing and 23rd in sacks allowed while producing three All-MAC performers.
And then the entire unit graduated.
In the act of replacing five senior starters, Manning found a way to not only skip a beat, but to even improve in some areas.
The Rockets led the MAC in rushing at just under 208 yards per game and 5.07 per carry, and Kareem Hunt again led the conference among all individuals with just over 108 yards per outing.
Toledo also ranked among the top 40 nationally in passing at 253 yards per game, allowing the Rockets to stand as one of just a dozen FBS teams ranks in the top 40 both on the ground and through the air.
But it was in limiting negative plays where Manning's unit truly stood above the rest of the nation.
Toledo allowed just 40 tackles for a loss (3.33 per game) for 106 total yards -- the fewest in the nation. Opposing defenders also got to Toledo passers for just four sacks this season, second fewest in FBS. With 411 pass attempts this season, the Rockets' offensive line surrendered a sack every 102.75 drop backs. For consideration at just how insane that number is, consider that national leader Air Force (three sacks allowed) permitted a sack for every 56.7 hoisted passes. Toledo's 102.75 sacks per pass attempt is the fewest sacks allowed since the FootballScoop awards program began in 2008.
Toledo completed a 10-2 season, and left tackle Storm Norton was named a First Team All-MAC performer.
A former Mount Union left tackle, Manning got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant under then-offensive coordinator Matt Campbell at Toledo in 2009. He spent the 2010 season as the Rockets' DFO, then returned to Mount Union as offensive line coach in 2011. He re-joined the Rockets' staff as offensive line coach in 2012, and earlier this month followed Campbell to Iowa State.
“Tom is truly one of the best offensive line coaches in the country,” Campbell said. “He’s done a fantastic job developing the line at Toledo. Tom played for me and now coached for me, and he’s one of the great talents in college football right now.”
Shortly after officially joining the Iowa State staff, Campbell promoted Manning to offensive coordinator.
"It was really easy," Campbell said of promoting Manning. "Between coach Manning really serving a coordinator role at Toledo, I’ll be honest with you, the success we’ve had with our offense, especially within our running game, under Tom’s tutelage. That was tremendous."
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. The finalists (Bill Bedenbaugh [Oklahoma], Mike Bloomgren [Stanford], Mario Cristobal [Alabama} and Manning) were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors, and athletic department personnel. The prior winners selected this year's winner.
Manning will receive his award and be recognized at an event at the AFCA Convention in January.
Previous winners of the Offensive Line Coach of the Year award are Steve Greatwood (Oregon, 2008), Tony Wise (Pittsburgh, 2009), Bob Bostad (Wisconsin, 2010) Greg Studrawa (LSU, 2011), Ed Warinner (Ohio State, 2012 and 2014) and Mike Bloomgren (Stanford, 2013).
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