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Alabama's Smart Captures 2009 Broyles Award
December 8, 2009; Little Rock, Ark. - The nation's top team now officially has the nation's top assistant coach. Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is the 14th recipient of the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. Smart was honored, along with his fellow finalists, at a Tuesday luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock. Smart beat out three time finalist Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, two time finalist TCU defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas, Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin and Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn to win the award, which is named after former Arkansas coach and athletic director Frank Broyles. Alabama is undefeated and ranked No. 1 after beating Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Smart, a former All-SEC defensive back at Georgia, has guided the Crimson Tide to No. 1 nationally in scoring defense and No. 2 nationally in rushing defense and total defense. About the Broyles Award There are few coaches whose efforts have forever impacted the game of college football. 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. Former Broyles assistant coaches who have become head coaches have gone on to coach in 20 percent of all Super Bowls and win almost 15 percent of all Super Bowl titles plus five national collegiate championships, more than 40 conference titles and more than 2,000 games. More than 25 Broyles assistants went on to become head coaches at the college or professional level, including Joe Gibbs, Hayden Fry, Raymond Berry, Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill and Barry Switzer (full list below). In 1996, the Broyles Award was established to recognize the dedicated, hard-working assistants like those who worked for Broyles, and to date, 59 finalists and 13 winners have been honored. Like many of Broyles' assistants who went on to do great things, numerous coaches recognized by the Broyles Award have since remained in the spotlight, with 25 percent of finalists and winners going on to become head coaches, including four of the six finalists from 2004. The Selection Process Each NCAA Division I head coach may nominate one of his assistants for the Broyles Award. Every assistant that is nominated, but not selected as a finalist, receives a personalized wall plaque recognizing his efforts. The finalists are chosen by a nine-man panel that may be the most prestigious of any awards panel, representing eight national championships, more than 1,600 victories, over 60 conference titles, 124 bowl game appearances and nine national head coach of the year honors. Broyles Award Panelists: Former Arkansas Athletic Director and Coach Frank Broyles Former Georgia Coach Vince Dooley Former Washington Coach Don James Former Syracuse Coach Dick MacPherson Former Baylor Coach Grant Teaff Former Brigham Young Coach LaVell Edwards Former Iowa Coach Hayden Fry Former Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer Former Tennessee and Pittsburgh Coach Johnny Majors Previous Broyles Award Winners:Posted on Tue, 8 Dec 2009