ATLANTA (July 13, 2023) – The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today released the preseason watch list for the 2023 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank. This year's list includes 21 of the nation's top college football coaches representing all Power Five conferences, as well as the AAC, Mountain West and an independent.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of
scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy.
The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., taking into consideration each program's graduation rate, Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, projected success for the 2023 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).
Coaches named to this year's preseason watch list were required to have an APR higher than 980. Additionally, coaches in the first year with their current teams were not included as they are ineligible to receive The Dodd Trophy until their second year with their program.
"The Dodd Trophy is the most coveted coach of the year award because it holds coaches to a higher standard of commitment beyond their team's success on the field, but also to their involvement in the community and their student-athlete's achievements in the classroom," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Boddy Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "This is why we only consider coaches whose programs have earned an APR above 980, and also require coaches to have at least two years of experience leading their current programs, so that they have had time to establish a precedent, both on and off the field."
The 2023 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank Preseason Watch List:
| Coach |
School |
Conference |
APR |
| Dave Aranda |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
990 |
| Andy Avalos |
Boise State |
Mountain West |
982 |
| Mack Brown |
North Carolina |
ACC |
984 |
| Dave Clawson |
Wake Forest |
ACC |
1000 |
| Ryan Day |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
1000 |
| Dave Doeren |
NC State |
ACC |
988 |
| Kirk Ferentz |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
980 |
| P.J. Fleck |
Minnesota |
Big Ten |
994 |
| Marcus Freeman |
Notre Dame |
Independent |
991 |
| Willie Fritz |
Tulane |
AAC |
981 |
| Jim Harbaugh |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
1000 |
| Gus Malzahn |
UCF |
Big 12 |
986 |
| Joey McGuire |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
997 |
| Mike Norvell |
Florida State |
ACC |
981 |
| Sam Pittman |
Arkansas |
SEC |
994 |
| Nick Saban |
Alabama |
SEC |
997 |
| Steve Sarkisian |
Texas |
Big 12 |
983 |
| Dabo Swinney |
Clemson |
ACC |
985 |
| Mel Tucker |
Michigan State |
Big Ten |
982 |
| Brent Venables |
Oklahoma |
Big 12 |
997 |
| Kyle Whittingham |
Utah |
Pac-12 |
988 |
This collective group of coaches has won 10 National Championships, 41 FBS conference titles and secured 2,070 career wins throughout their careers.
Of the 21 coaches on the watch list, six are previous winners of The Dodd Trophy, including Mack Brown (2008), Dabo Swinney (2011), Nick Saban (2014), Kirk Ferentz (2015), Kyle Whittingham (2019) and Willie Fritz (2022).
Additionally, three of the finalists for last year's award are represented, including Jim Harbaugh, Kyle Whittingham and the 2022 recipient of The Dodd Trophy Willie Fritz.
The ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten lead all conferences with five coaches named to the preseason watch list, followed by the SEC with two. The Pac-12, AAC and Mountain West each have one coach represented.
"PNC is proud to join the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. in recognizing this outstanding group of collegiate coaches for their accomplishments and impact," said Eddie Meyers, PNC regional president for Greater Georgia. "These individuals are building teams that achieve success on the football field, as well as a new generation of leaders making a positive difference in their communities."
"We are proud to recognize these men as great leaders in our sport who have consistently exemplified The Dodd Trophy's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO & President Gary Stokan. "Both on and off the field, these coaches have shown what it takes to always strive for excellence and help push their student-athletes to be their very best."
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2023 season. The winner of the 2023 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Starting in September, the Dodd Coach of the Week Award will also honor coaches on a weekly basis whose program embodies the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, while also having success on the playing field during the previous week.
