The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl released their annual preseason watch list for the 2022 Dodd Trophy.
The list is made up of 20 total college football head coaches including Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
The Dodd Trophy is awarded to “the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity — the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.
“Collee football has seen many changes in recent years, but all of these coaches have held true to our award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity,” said Jim Jerry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation in a press release. “What separates The Dodd Trophy and truly makes it the most coveted coach of the year award, is our commitment to recognizing all that these coaches do, not only on the football field, but in the classroom and throughout their communities as well. This is why we require coaches to have at least two years of experience leading their current programs, so that they have had time to establish precedent, both on and off the field.”
Of the 20 coaches on the watch list, five are previous winners of The Dodd Trophy, including Dabo Swinney (2011), Nick Saban (2014), Kirk Ferentz (2015), Kyle Whittingham (2019) and Luke Fickell (2021).
“Never has strong leadership been more imperative than it is now in our sport,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO & President Gary Stokan in a press release. “Each of these coaches have continued to find success and navigate an ever-evolving college football landscape to lead their student athletes to new heights both on the football field and in the classroom.”
Below is the full 2022 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List:
|
Coach |
School |
Conference |
|
Dave Aranda |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
|
Paul Chryst |
Wisconsin |
Big Ten |
|
Dave Clawson |
Wake Forest |
ACC |
|
Ryan Day |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
|
Dave Doeren |
NC State |
ACC |
|
Kirk Ferentz |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
|
Luke Fickell |
Cincinnati |
AAC |
|
Jimbo Fisher |
Texas A&M |
SEC |
|
Mike Gundy |
Oklahoma State |
Big 12 |
|
Jim Harbaugh |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
|
Lane Kiffin |
Ole Miss |
SEC |
|
Pat Narduzzi |
Pitt |
ACC |
|
Sam Pittman |
Arkansas |
SEC |
|
Nick Saban |
Alabama |
SEC |
|
Kalani Sitake |
BYU |
Independent |
|
Kirby Smart |
Georgia |
SEC |
|
Mark Stoops |
Kentucky |
SEC |
|
Dabo Swinney |
Clemson |
ACC |
|
Mel Tucker |
Michigan State |
Big Ten |
|
Kyle Whittingham |
Utah |
Pac-12 |
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
