ATLANTA (Dec. 3, 2024) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Syracuse head football coach Fran Brown 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.

Brown and the Orange overcame a 21-point deficit to rally past No. 6 Miami with a 42-38 victory on Saturday afternoon in the JMA Wireless Dome. The tide turned in favor of the Orange after the defense forced a Miami fumble that Devin Grant recovered and turned into a 56-yard touchdown, giving Syracuse its first lead at 35-28 going into the fourth quarter. After Miami answered with a touchdown to tie the game at 35-35, Syracuse then scored the final touchdown of the day on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended on a 3-yard score by junior running back LeQuint Allen. Miami tried to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter, but the Syracuse defense held the Hurricanes to only a field goal during the final 13 minutes of the game to secure the victory. Syracuse was led by senior quarterback Kyle McCord, who completed 26-of-36 passes for 380 yards in the air and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jackson Meeks also had a stellar game with 110 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Allen finished with 82 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Saturday's upset of the Hurricanes marked the first Syracuse win over an AP Top-10 opponent since 2017 and represented the first time since 1998 that the Orange defeated three AP Top-25 teams in one season.

Brown, currently in his first season with the Orange, has become only the second coach in program history to reach the nine-win benchmark in his first year. Prior to taking over at Syracuse, Brown was a part of Georgia's 2022 CFP National Championship team as the defensive backs and recruiting coach. In his time with Georgia, the defensive finished the season ranked among the nation's leaders in rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense and total defense.  His resume also includes stops at Temple, Baylor and Rutgers where he held various coaching positions.

"Coach Brown is already making a statement in his first full season at Syracuse, leading the Orange to a third win over a ranked opponent," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "We're looking forward to seeing what other milestones he's able to reach during his time leading the Orange."
 
Off the football field, Brown's players have had success in the classroom, recording a 975 Academic Progress Rate and an 82 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.

"This was a huge game that had implications not only on the ACC Championship Game, but potentially the CFP as well," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. "Coach Brown's leadership turning around the Syracuse football program in year one is apparent, having already led the Orange to a top-four finish in the conference and finishing the season on a three-game winning streak. The future is bright in Syracuse, and I know we're certainly looking forward to hosting Coach Brown and the Orange here in Atlanta during next year's Aflac Kickoff Game."

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.