The Broyles Award is an esteemed accolade in collegiate football, recognizing the best assistant coach in the nation. Established in 1996, the award honors Frank Broyles, a former head coach and athletic director at the University of Arkansas. The award ceremony takes place annually in Little Rock, Arkansas, and has gained significant prestige over the years.
Approximately 1,300 assistant coaches from all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs are eligible for nomination annually. Nominations come from peers and a selection committee composed of former head coaches and other respected figures in college football. This committee narrows down the nominees to five finalists who are invited to the award ceremony. The winner receives a bronze trophy valued at $5,000, while finalists are also recognized with plaques and gifts from sponsors. To date, many winners of the Broyles Award have gone on to become successful head coaches. Out of 23 winners, 18 have transitioned to head coaching roles, showcasing the award's role as a stepping stone in coaching careers. Recent winners include Garrett Riley, who won in 2022 while serving as TCU's offensive coordinator and since then, he has taken on a similar role at Clemson. The 2024 finalist list features notable names like Pete Kwiatkowski, Texas's defensive coordinator, who has led a top-performing defense this season.
Frank Broyles Award winners year by year
| Year | Coach | School |
| 1996 | Mickey Andrews | Florida State |
| 1997 | Jim Herrmann | Michigan |
| 1998 | David Cutcliffe | Tennessee |
| 1999 | Ralph Friedgen | Georgia Tech |
| 2000 | Mark Mangino | Oklahoma |
| 2001 | Randy Shannon | Miami (FL) |
| 2002 | Norm Chow | USC |
| 2003 | Brian VanGorder | Georgia |
| 2004 | Gene Chizik | Auburn |
| 2005 | Greg Davis | Texas |
| 2006 | Bud Foster | Virginia Tech |
| 2007 | Jim Heacock | Ohio State |
| 2008 | Kevin Wilson | Oklahoma |
| 2009 | Kirby Smart | Alabama |
| 2010 | Gus Malzahn | Auburn |
| 2011 | John Chavis | LSU |
| 2012 | Bob Diaco | Notre Dame |
| 2013 | Pat Narduzzi | Michigan State |
| 2014 | Tom Herman | Ohio State |
| 2015 | Lincoln Riley | Oklahoma |
| 2016 | Brent Venables | Clemson |
| 2017 | Tony Elliott | Clemson |
| 2018 | Mike Locksley | Alabama |
| 2019 | Joe Brady | LSU |
| 2020 | Steve Sarkisian | Alabama |
| 2021 | Josh Gattis | Michigan |
| 2022 | Garrett Riley | TCU |
| 2023 | Phil Parker | Iowa |
FAQ on Broyles Award Winners
A. Iowa DC Phil Parker won the 2024 Broyles Award as the top assistant coach.
A. The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas.
