Alabama Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian Wins Broyles Award

A Crimson Tide coordinator named the nation's best assistant coach for the third time, and second time in three years

Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was named the winner of 2020 Broyles Award for the most outstanding assistant coach in college football during the 25th Anniversary Broyles Award Virtual Ceremony on Monday.

During his second season as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Sarkisian has overseen a Crimson Tide attack that is averaging 49.7 points and 543.9 yards per game, both marks that are tops in Division I. 

Alabama has scored 35-or more points for the 24 straight games, the longest streak in major-college football history. 

Since Sarkisian took over as offensive coordinator in 2018, the Crimson Tide has also had an FBS-leading six different players catch a touchdown pass of 75 yards or more.

Alabama has two Heisman Trophy finalists in quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, with running back Najee Harris placing fifth. All three were named first-team All-Americans along with center Landon Dickerson and left tackle Alex Leatherwood by the Associated Press on Monday morning. 

Sarkisian first served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator for the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game after spending the 2016 season with Alabama as an analyst prior to being promoted.

Sarkisian joined former Alabama offensive coordinator Michael Locksley (2018) and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart (2009) as the third Alabama coach to receive the honor.

“I think Sark has done an outstanding job in terms of, first of all, system and scheme; secondly, in terms of how he teaches the players. And he's a very good quarterback coach,” Nick Saban said Monday afternoon.” So he's really helped the development of the quarterback. I think Mac would be the first one to probably tell you that.

“And I think a combination of all those things and how he manages his staff and everybody's on the same page and works really, really well together.

“I think the players have a lot of confidence in what we're doing, and I think they sort of have confidence in the fact that they're well prepared for every game so they don't go in with a lot of question marks or apprehensions in terms of how we're going to handle certain things and what adjustments we need to make in the game to be able to continue to have success.

“So he's just done an outstanding job. He's contributed as much as anybody that we've ever had here in terms of his knowledge and experience and how he manages the offensive side of the ball.”

The Broyles Award has been presented annually since 1996.

The other finalists were: 

• Jeff Grimes, BYU Offensive Coordinator

• Marcus Freeman, Cincinnati Defensive Coordinator / linebackers

• Kane Wommack, Indiana Defensive Coordinator / linebackers

• Mike Hankwitz, Northwestern Defensive Coordinator

Broyles Award winners

Year Coach School Notes

2020 Steve Sarkisian Alabama 

2019 Joe Brady LSU

2018 Mike Locksley Alabama

2017 Tony Elliott Clemson

2016 Brent Venables Clemson

2015 Lincoln Riley Oklahoma

2014 Tom Herman Ohio State

2013 Pat Narduzzi Mich. St.

2012 Bob Diaco Notre Dame

2011 John Chavis LSU

2010 Gus Malzahn Auburn

2009 Kirby Smart Alabama

2008 Kevin Wilson Oklahoma

2007 Jim Heacock Ohio State

2006 Bud Foster Virginia Tech

2005 Greg Davis Texas

2004 Gene Chizik Auburn

2003 Brian VanGorder Georgia

2002 Norm Chow USC

2001 Randy Shannon Florida

2000 Mark Mangino Oklahoma

1999 Ralph Friedgen Georgia Tech

1998 David Cutcliffe Tennessee

1997 Jim Herrmann Michigan

1996 Mickey Andrews Florida State