Special Teams Coordinator Coach of the Year
Finalists:
Dan Sharp - TCU D.J. Durkin - Stanford Mike Tolleson - Texas Jeff Choate - Boise State (vote at bottom)Dan Sharp - TCU
Special teams coordinator Dan Sharp has “a pretty amazing dude” returning kicks and punts according to head coach Gary Patterson. TCU return man Jeremy Kerley has returned 2 punts for touchdowns this season and leads the Mountain West Conference in both kickoff return average and punt return average. The Horned Frogs lead the nation is kickoff return average at 30.6 yards per return. Field goal kicker Ross Evan finished 14-17 on the year with 2 important successful kicks in frigid weather in the 20-17 win at Air Force. In the 14-10 win at Clemson, dangerous kickoff return man C.J. Spiller had returns to just the 20 and 24 yard lines. The TCU punt unit allowed just 85 yards on returns all year on 17 attempts (5.0 yards per return). TCU finished the season 12-0 and champions of the Mountain West Conference.
1st nationally – Kickoff Return Average (30.6 yards per return, 1 TD) 23rd nationally – Punt Return Average (12.9 yards per return, 2 TD) 14-17 Field GoalsD.J. Durkin - Stanford
D.J. Durkin’s commitment to fundamentals in teaching the relatively basic schemes used by the Stanford special teams ended up helping the Cardinal finish 8-4 and 6-3 in the PAC-10 . The Cardinal special teams returned 3 kickoffs for touchdowns and 1 punt for a score this season. For most of the season, nobody wanted to kick deep to Chris Owusu. The punt team finished 33rd in the nation in Net Punting (37.3 yard net punt average). Stanford had just 1 turnover, 3 penalties, and allowed 1 blocked kick on special teams during the season. Placekicker Nate Whitaker finished 14-20 on field goals including 8-9 inside 40 yards. Whitaker also added 12 touchbacks in 80 kickoff opportunities.
2nd nationally – Kickoff Return Average (28.7 yards per return, 3 TD) 33rd nationally – Net Punting (37.3 Average Net Punt) Limited big plays allowedMike Tolleson - Texas
Under special teams coordinator Mike Tolleson, the Longhorns have returned 3 kickoffs for touchdowns and 2 punts for touchdowns this season. One of the big plays in helping Texas finish the regular season 12-0 came when Marquis Goodwin returned a 4th quarter kickoff 95 yards to help defeat Texas A&M. The Longhorns have also blocked 2 punts for touchdowns. Placekicker Hunter Lawrence connected on 20 of 23 field goals. In the 16-13 win over Oklahoma, Lawrence was successful on all 3 field goal attempts. The Longhorns have also executed a couple of fakes during the year and blocked a total of 5 kicks.
3rd nationally – Kickoff Return Average (28.3 yards per return, 3TD) 15th nationally – Punt Return Average (13.45 average, 2 TD) 5 Block KicksJeff Choate - Boise State
One of the reasons Boise State is 12-0 and champions of the Western Athletic Conference is the superb play of the Broncos’ special teams. Jeff Choate, special teams coordinator, has the Broncos 5th in nation in kickoff return average (27 yards per return) and 6th in the nation in Net Punting (39.6 yard average per Net Punt). The Broncos returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns, while the punt return unit has over 310 yards on 29 returns (10.7 average). Opponents have been limited to just 69 yards on 15 punt returns. Placekicker Kyle Brotzman is 17-23 on the season. The Broncos did not allow a punt block all season, but were able to block 2 punts against the opposition. Want to know how important Special Teams are at Boise State? The head coach Chris Peterson personally coaches all the returners.
5th nationally – Kickoff Return Average (27 yard average, 2 TD) 6th nationally – Net Punting (39.6 yard average) Did not allow any blocked kicks / punts 2 blocked puntsOfficial Press Release
* A panel of current and former coaches along with past recipients of the awards will evaluate the finalists will select the winners. Votes will be considered; however the Panel has final decision over the awards.
