The Broyles Award is given to the top assistant coach in college football each season, an honor that has previously been given to eventual NFL head coaches Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs and Jackie Sherrill. This year's finalists included Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, but LSU Tigers assistant John Chavis was named the winner on Tuesday.
Along with Mattison and Chavis, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, former Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and Alabama assistant head coach Sal Sunseri were up for the award.
The Wolverines finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, including an impressive 8-0 at home, leading to their BCS bowl berth against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Allstate Sugar Bowl next month. Mattison's defense held the opposing team to 17 points or less in nine of the team's 12 outing this season, including a 58-0 shutout at home over their Big Ten rivals in the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Chavis's season was summed up as such by the Associated Press:
The 55-year-old Chavis guided an LSU defense that was second in the country in both scoring and total defense. The Tigers (13-0) allowed 10.5 points and 252.1 yards per game while finishing the regular season undefeated and winning the Southeastern Conference championship over Georgia.
Head coach Brady Hoke is still up for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award.