AUBURN, Ala. – Overseeing one of only six FBS defenses to allow 24 or fewer points every game this season, Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award, presented to college football's top assistant coach.
A Broyles Award finalist in 2017, Steele's Tigers are allowing only 16.2 points per game, Auburn's best showing since 2006 (13.9).
In his fourth season leading Auburn's defense, the Tigers' yards per play allowed (4.48) is the program's best since 1992 (4.06).
Here are the 15 Broyles Award finalists:
AUBURN – Kevin Steele, Defensive Coordinator
BAYLOR – Phil Snow, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
CLEMSON – Jeff Scott, Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR
GEORGIA – Dan Lanning, Defensive Coordinator/Outside LBs
INDIANA – Kalen DeBoer, Offensive Coordinator/QB
LSU – Joe Brady, Passing Game Coordinator/WR
MICHIGAN – Don Brown, Defensive Coordinator
MINNESOTA – Kirk Ciarrocca, Offensive Coordinator/QB
NAVY – Brian Newberry, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
OHIO STATE – Jeff Hafley, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
OKLAHOMA – Alex Grinch, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
OREGON – Andy Avalos, Defensive Coordinator
SMU – Rhett Lashlee, Offensive Coordinator/QB
WISCONSIN – Jim Leonhard, Defensive Coordinator
UTAH – Morgan Scalley, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
From the list of 15, five finalists will be selected and invited to travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, where the 2019 Broyles Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Marriott Hotel.
Winners from the past five seasons are not eligible for the Broyles Award. For a list of all previous winners and finalists, visit the Broyles Award website.
Proceeds from the 2019 Broyles Award support the mission of the Broyles Foundation; to provide a game plan through education, support, and resources to Alzheimer's caregivers. The Broyles Foundation can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Riceland Foods serves as the presenting sponsor of the 2019 Broyles Award. Riceland is the world's largest miller and marketer of rice with its products sold across the nation and to more than 75 foreign destinations.
About the Broyles Award
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career at Arkansas. You can follow the Broyles Award on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the National College Football Awards Association
The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 699 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.
About the Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer