ATLANTA (Oct. 7, 2024) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Vanderbilt head football coach Clark Lea has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Lea and the Commodores pulled off the upset over No. 1 Alabama with a 40-35 win at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Commodores knocked off top-ranked Alabama for the first time since 1984 and recorded the program's first ever win against an AP No. 1 opponent. Vanderbilt graduate transfer quarterback Diego Pavia passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns while tight end Eli Stowers had a game-high 113 receiving yards on six receptions. The Commodores outgained Alabama in rushing yards 166-84, led by Sedrick Alexander's 64 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Linebacker Randon Fontenette had a standout performance on defense with a pick-six, resulting in the sophomore's first collegiate touchdown.
Lea is the 29th head coach of the Commodores and took over the helm of his alma mater in December of 2020. Before becoming head coach, he spent two years as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, where his defense ranked in the top 25 in rushing defense, fumble recoveries, third down conversion percentage, scoring defense, tackles for loss and total defense. During his brief stint at Notre Dame, he was also named a Broyles Award semifinalist in 2020, which is presented to the top assistant coach in college football.
"Coach Lea just secured the biggest win in Vanderbilt's football history," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "This kind of upset victory puts a program on the map and epitomizes everything we love about college football."
Off the football field, Lea's players have had success in the classroom during his tenure, recording a 994 Academic Progress Rate and a 95 Graduation Success Rate during the 2023 season. The Graduation Success Rate measures the number of student-athletes who graduate from their school within six years of entering.
Last season, a school-record five players earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators under Lea. As a team, the Commodores also posted a 3.106 grade-point average for the fall 2023 semester, setting a program record for the fall. Vanderbilt had 10 football student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA for the semester, 29 on the Dean's List, 67 with a 3.0 for the term and 55 on the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.
"Coach Lea is changing the culture around the Vanderbilt program, and people are starting to take notice after this historic win" said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. "Coach Lea is not only succeeding on the football field though, as he's also building a culture of excellence when it comes to academics with his student-athletes."
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
A panel consisting of all 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 2024 season. The winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
