COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today released the preseason watch list for the 2021 Dodd Trophy presented by PNC. This year's list includes 17 of the nation's top college football coaches representing all Power Five conferences, as well as the AAC, Sun Belt and an independent.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates 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.
The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., taking into consideration each program's graduation rate, commitment to service and charity in the community, projected success for the 2021 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR). Coaches in the first year with their current team are ineligible to receive The Dodd Trophy.
"The Dodd Trophy is the most coveted coach of the year award because it looks beyond just the results on the field and measures the overall impact these coaches have had on their players, universities and communities. This was never more pivotal than last season," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "Each of these coaches showed unwavering commitment to the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, despite all of the obstacles and challenges they had to overcome this past year in the face of the pandemic."
The 2021 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List presented by PNC:
Coach School Conference
Tom Allen Indiana Big Ten
Mack Brown North Carolina ACC
Matt Campbell Iowa State Big 12
Jamey Chadwell Coastal Carolina Sun Belt
Paul Chryst Wisconsin Big Ten
Ryan Day Ohio State Big Ten
Kirk Ferentz Iowa Big Ten
Luke Fickell Cincinnati AAC
Jimbo Fisher Texas A&M SEC
James Franklin Penn State Big Ten
Brian Kelly Notre Dame Independent
Jimmy Lake Washington Pac-12
Dan Mullen Florida SEC
Lincoln Riley Oklahoma Big 12
Nick Saban Alabama SEC
Kirby Smart Georgia SEC
Dabo Swinney Clemson ACC
