Alabama OC Sarkisian Wins Broyles Award For Top Assistant Coach

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian was named the winner of the 25th annual Broyles Award on Monday, which is given each year to the nation's top assistant football coach in the college ranks by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation

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Sarkisian, 46, is the third Alabama coach to win the award since its inception, joining Kirby Smart (2009) and Mike Locksley (2018). He was selected from a group of five finalists by a committee of former head coaches, broadcasters, and a committee representing the Football Writers Association of America.

A former head coach at Washington and Southern California, Sarkisian played a major role in the development of one of the nation's most powerful offenses in his second year as the full-time offensive coordinator. On the way to an undefeated regular season and SEC Championship, Sarkisian's offensive unit averaged 543.9 yards per game, scoring 68 touchdowns and will also finish the season with three of the top 10 vote getters in the Heisman Trophy race: Quarterback Mac Jones, receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris.

He also stepped in to lead the Tide on the field against Georgia after head coach Nick Saban was forced into quarantine due to testing positive for the coronavirus. This primetime matchup proved a major redemptive moment for Sarkisian as the Crimson Tide rolled 41-24 over the Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 3 at the time.

Other finalists for the Broyles Award included BYU Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes, Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman, Indiana DC Kane Wommack and Northwestern DC Mike Hankwitz.

The award was established in 1996 to honor longtime Arkansas head coach Frank Broyles, who is noted for aiding in the development of some of the most successful assistant coaches in college football history.

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