Given to the coach of the year, the award is selected by the American Football Coaches Association Year - coach, school 2023 - 2022 - Sonny Dykes, Texas Christian 2021 - Luke Fickell, Cincinnati 2020 - Tom Allen, Indiana 2019 - Ed Orgeron, Louisiana State 2018 - Mike Leach, Washington State 2017 - Scott Frost, Nebraska 2016 - Mike MacIntyre, Colorado 2015 - Dabo Swinney, Clemson 2014 - Gary Patterson, Texas Christian 2013 - David Cutcliff, Duke 2012 - Brian Kelly, Notre Dame 2011 - Les Miles, LSU 2010 - Chip Kelly, Oregon 2009 - Gary Patterson, Texas Christian 2008 - Kyle Whittingham, Utah 2007 - Mark Mangino, Kansas 2006 - Jim Grobe, Wake Forest 2005 - Joe Paterno, Penn State 2004 - Tommy Tuberville, Auburn 2003 - Pete Carroll, Southern California 2002 - Jim Tressel, Ohio State 2001 - Larry Coker, Miami FL & Ralph Friedgen, Maryland 2000 - Bob Stoops, Oklahoma 1999 - Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 1998 - Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee 1997 - Lloyd Carr, Michigan 1996 - Bruce Snyder, Arizona State 1995 - Gary Barnett, Northwestern 1994 - Tom Osborne, Nebraska 1993 - Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin 1992 - Gene Stallings, Alabama 1991 - Bill Lewis, East Carolina 1990 - Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech 1989 - Bill McCartney, Colorado 1988 - Don Nehlen, West Virginia 1987 - Dick MacPherson, Syracuse 1986 - Joe Paterno, Penn State 1985 - Fisher DeBerry, Air Force 1984 - LaVell Edwards, Brigham Young 1983 - Ken Hatfield, Air Force 1982 - Joe Paterno, Penn State 1981 - Danny Ford, Clemson 1980 - Vince Dooley, Georgia 1979 - Earle Bruce, Ohio State 1978 - Joe Paterno, Penn State 1977 - Don James, Washington 1976 - Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh 1975 - Frank Kush, Arizona State 1974 - Grant Teaff, Baylor 1973 - Bear Bryant, Alabama 1972 - John McKay, Southern California 1971 - Bear Bryant, Alabama 1970 - Charlie McClendon, LSU & Darrell Royal, Texas 1969 - Bo Schembechler, Michigan 1968 - Joe Paterno, Penn State 1967 - John Pont, Indiana 1966 - Tom Cahill, Army 1965 - Tommy Prothro, UCLA 1964 - Frank Broyles, Arkansas & Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame 1963 - Darrell Royal, Texas 1962 - John McKay, Southern California 1961 - Bear Bryant, Alabama 1960 - Murray Warmath, Minnesota 1959 - Ben Schwartzwalder, Syracuse 1958 - Paul Dietzel, LSU 1957 - Woody Hayes, Ohio State 1956 - Bowden Wyatt, Tennessee 1955 - Duffy Daugherty, Michigan State 1954 - Red Sanders, UCLA 1953 - Jim Tatum, Maryland 1952 - Biggie Munn, Michigan State 1951 - Chuck Taylor, Stanford 1950 - Charlie Caldwell, Princeton 1949 - Bud Wilkinson, Oklahoma 1948 - Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan 1947 - Fritz Crisler, Michigan 1946 - Red Blaik, Army 1945 - Bo McMillin, Indiana 1944 - Carroll Widdoes, Ohio State 1943 - Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pacific 1942 - Bill Alexander, Georgia Tech 1941 - Frank Leahy, Notre Dame 1940 - Clark Shaughnessy, Stanford 1939 - Eddie Anderson, Iowa 1938 - Bill Kern, Carnegie Mellon 1937 - Edward Mylin, Lafayette 1936 - Dick Harlow, Harvard 1935 - Lynn Waldorf, Northwestern