In 1996, the Broyles Award was established to recognize some of the most dedicated, hardest working people in America...the college football assistant coach. And, over the years, the award has done just that. Each year the five Broyles Award finalists are chosen from almost 1,500 assistant coaches representing 117 Division One college football programs. Each head coach can nominate one assistant coach from his staff. All nominations are reviewed by, and the five finalists chosen by, an enthusiastic selection committee comprised of 9 of college football's finest former head coaches.

1999 marked the beginning of a new award presented at the cermonies. The Lifetime Achievement Award has been given to former Texas A&M assistant coach Ray Dorr, San Diego State assistant coach Claude Gilbert, Penn State's Jerry Sandosky, and LSU's Charlie McClendon for their many contributions to the game of college football.

In the prestigious history of college football, there are few coaches whose efforts have forever impacted the game. Bear Bryant, Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and Eddie Robinson have set the standard for victories and championships on the gridiron. However, when it comes to selecting, developing and producing great assistant coaches, the legacy of Frank Broyles stands alone.

Broyles Assistant Coaches who became head coaches have won:

• 15% of All Super Bowls
• 5 College National Championships
• More Than 40 Conference Titles
• Over 2,000 Victories

Broyles assistant coaches & their head coaching jobs:

• Joe Gibbs - Washington Redskins
• Hayden Fry - Iowa, SMU, North Texas
• Johnny Majors - Pittsburgh, Tennessee
• Barry Switzer - Oklahoma, Dallas Cowboys
• Jimmy Johnson - Miami, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Oklahoma St,
• Jackie Sherrill - Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Mississippi St, Washington St
• Raymond Berry - New England Patriots
• Doug DIckey - Florida, Tennessee
• Pepper Rogers - UCLA, Georgia Tech, Kansas
• Hootie Ingram - Clemson
• Bo Rein - LSU, North Carolina State
• Jim Mackenzie - Oklahoma
• Jerry Claiborne - Maryland, Kentucky
• Jim Carlen - South Carolina, Texas Tech
• Pat Jones - Oklahoma State
• Bill Lewis - Georgia Tech, East Carolina, Wyoming
• Richard Williamson - Tampa Bay, Memphis State
• Richard Bell - South Carolina
• Bill Pace - Vanderbilt
• Charley Coffey - Virginia Tech
• Harold Horton - Central Arkansas
• Ken Turner - Henderson State
• Ken Stephens - Central Arkansas, Lamar
• Jesse Branch - Southwest Missouri St, Henderson State
• Fred Akers^* - Texas, Purdue, Wyoming
• Ken Hatfield^* - Arkansas, Clemson, Air Force, Rice
• Houston Nutt^* - Arkansas, Boise St, Murray St

^* Players under Broyles, not assistants