By Staff Report.
ATLANTA (October 31, 2014) – Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl have released the first watch list for the 2014 Dodd Trophy. The list includes 13 of the nation’s top coaches in college football.
Recognizing the head coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, The Dodd Trophy award celebrates the total football program.
The head coaches on the watch list represent programs with the highest ideals of leadership, scholarship and integrity on and off the field – the cornerstones of both legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophies. The 13 coaches named to the watch list represent programs with winning records, the nation’s top APR scores and graduation rates, and a strong commitment to community service.
The first 2014 Dodd Trophy watch list includes:
| COACH | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE | |
| David Cutcliffe | Duke | ACC | 2013 Winner |
| Mark Dantonio | Michigan State | Big Ten | |
| Brian Kelly | Notre Dame | Independent | |
| Gus Malzahn | Auburn | SEC | |
| Urban Meyer | Ohio State | Big Ten | |
| Jim Mora | UCLA | Pac 12 | |
| Dan Mullen | Mississippi State | SEC | |
| Mark Richt | Georgia | SEC | |
| Nick Saban | Alabama | SEC | |
| Bill Snyder | Kansas State | Big 12 | 1998, 2012 Winner |
| Bob Stoops | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 2003 Winner |
| Dabo Swinney | Clemson | ACC | 2011 Winner |
| Kyle Whittingham | Utah | Pac 12 |
As the season continues, the watch list will be narrowed and released again in November.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media pundits, a member of the Dodd family and one College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2014 season. The winner of The Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl week.
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About The Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd’s teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football’s legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player. Additional information about the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation can be found at www.bobbydoddfoundation.com.