The Frank Broyles Award will celebrate its 30th anniversary on February 12th, 2026, at Oaklawn Hot Springs in Arkansas, honoring both the legendary coach whose name it bears and the current generation of elite assistant coaches shaping college football.
This year’s ceremony carries special significance beyond the milestone anniversary. For the first time in three decades, fans will help determine the winner through a voting process that democratizes an award traditionally decided exclusively by a selection committee.
The Legacy of Frank Broyles
Frank Broyles built a coaching legacy that few have matched. After serving as a backfield coach at Baylor, Florida, and Georgia Tech, he became head coach at Missouri in 1957 before moving to Arkansas, where he would cement his place in college football history.
At Arkansas, Broyles won seven Southwest Conference championships and the 1964 national championship. His teams consistently competed at the highest level, earning him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He also entered the Arkansas Athletics Hall of Honor that same year.
Beyond his on-field success, Broyles understood the importance of assistant coaches in building championship programs. The award established in 1996 reflects his belief that great head coaches surround themselves with exceptional assistants who deserve recognition for their contributions.
Broyles passed away in 2017, but the award bearing his name continues celebrating the coaching excellence he valued throughout his career. The annual ceremony in his native Arkansas maintains that connection to his roots and his legacy.
Three Decades of Recognizing Excellence
Since its inception in 1996, the Broyles Award has recognized assistant coaches who went on to become some of college football’s most successful head coaches. The award’s track record includes coordinators who later led major programs, won conference championships, and competed for national titles.
The selection process has traditionally involved a prestigious committee evaluating coaching performance across multiple criteria: scheme innovation, player development, statistical achievement, and impact on team success. Committee members include former head coaches, athletic directors, and college football experts who understand the nuances of assistant coaching excellence.
This year’s finalists—Ohio State’s Matt Patricia, Indiana’s Bryant Haines, Georgia’s Mike Bobo, Miami’s Corey Hetherman, and Texas Tech’s Shiel Wood—represent the elite level of assistant coaching across the sport. Each has built championship-caliber units while developing players who earned conference and national recognition.
The Fan Vote Innovation
The introduction of fan voting for the 30th anniversary represents a significant evolution in how the award recognizes coaching excellence. Rather than a symbolic gesture, the fan vote counts as one collective vote weighted equally with individual selection committee members.
Fans can vote once every 24 hours from December 9th (Noon CST) through January 26th (11 PM CST), creating nearly seven weeks of public participation. Each vote also serves as an entry to win two VIP passes to the February ceremony, adding incentive for sustained engagement.
The extended voting window allows coordinators to strengthen their cases through playoff performances. With multiple finalists coaching teams in the College Football Playoff, late-season success could influence public perception and voting patterns.
This Year’s Championship-Level Finalists
The 2025 finalists showcase the diversity of coaching excellence across college football. Two first-year coordinators—Patricia at Ohio State and Haines at Indiana—made immediate impacts that transformed their programs. Both led defenses ranking in the top two nationally in major categories while producing undefeated or one-loss regular seasons.
Wood at Texas Tech created unprecedented balance for a program historically known for offensive prowess, leading the Red Raiders to a program-record 12 wins and Big 12 Championship. His defense leads the nation with 31 takeaways while ranking first in rush defense.
Bobo stands as the only offensive coordinator among the finalists, revamping Georgia’s offense despite a first-year starting quarterback and offensive line injuries. The Bulldogs won the SEC Championship and earned the No. 3 playoff seed behind Bobo’s offensive leadership.
Hetherman brought his defensive expertise from Minnesota to Miami, creating immediate improvement that helped the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff. His track record of sustained success at multiple programs demonstrates consistent coaching excellence.
The February Ceremony
The 30th Anniversary Broyles Award Event at Oaklawn Hot Springs will bring together coaching legends, current finalists, and college football dignitaries to celebrate three decades of recognizing assistant coaching excellence.
The ceremony format typically includes video tributes to finalists, speeches from selection committee members, and the winner announcement. This year’s event will likely acknowledge the historic fan vote introduction and reflect on how the award has evolved since 1996 while maintaining its core mission of honoring coaching excellence.
Oaklawn Hot Springs provides an intimate setting that connects the ceremony to Arkansas and Frank Broyles’ legacy. The venue allows for meaningful celebration rather than the large-scale productions common at other award ceremonies.
Participate in History
The fan vote represents a genuine opportunity to influence the outcome rather than a symbolic participation exercise. With the collective fan vote weighted equally alongside committee members, public support matters in determining the winner.
Cast your vote here and be part of the first fan vote in Broyles Award history.
As the award celebrates 30 years of honoring coaching excellence, the introduction of fan participation creates a fitting evolution. Frank Broyles understood that great programs require exceptional assistant coaches who often work without public recognition.
This anniversary year brings those coaches into the spotlight while giving fans a voice in celebrating their contributions to the sport.
